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Zhou T, Shen Y, Lyu J, Yang L, Wang HJ, Hong S, Ji Y. Medication Usage Record-Based Predictive Modeling of Neurodevelopmental Abnormality in Infants under One Year: A Prospective Birth Cohort Study. Healthcare (Basel) 2024; 12:713. [PMID: 38610136 PMCID: PMC11011488 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12070713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 03/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Early identification of children with neurodevelopmental abnormality is a major challenge, which is crucial for improving symptoms and preventing further decline in children with neurodevelopmental abnormality. This study focuses on developing a predictive model with maternal sociodemographic, behavioral, and medication-usage information during pregnancy to identify infants with abnormal neurodevelopment before the age of one. In addition, an interpretable machine-learning approach was utilized to assess the importance of the variables in the model. In this study, artificial neural network models were developed for the neurodevelopment of five areas of infants during the first year of life and achieved good predictive efficacy in the areas of fine motor and problem solving, with median AUC = 0.670 (IQR: 0.594, 0.764) and median AUC = 0.643 (IQR: 0.550, 0.731), respectively. The final model for neurodevelopmental abnormalities in any energy region of one-year-old children also achieved good prediction performance. The sensitivity is 0.700 (IQR: 0.597, 0.797), the AUC is 0.821 (IQR: 0.716, 0.833), the accuracy is 0.721 (IQR: 0.696, 0.739), and the specificity is 0.742 (IQR: 0.680, 0.748). In addition, interpretable machine-learning methods suggest that maternal exposure to drugs such as acetaminophen, ferrous succinate, and midazolam during pregnancy affects the development of specific areas of the offspring during the first year of life. This study established predictive models of neurodevelopmental abnormality in infants under one year and underscored the prediction value of medication exposure during pregnancy for the neurodevelopmental outcomes of the offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyi Zhou
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China; (T.Z.); (Y.S.); (J.L.); (H.-J.W.)
- Peking University Health Science Center-Weifang Joint Research Center for Maternal and Child Health, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yaojia Shen
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China; (T.Z.); (Y.S.); (J.L.); (H.-J.W.)
- Peking University Health Science Center-Weifang Joint Research Center for Maternal and Child Health, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Jinlang Lyu
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China; (T.Z.); (Y.S.); (J.L.); (H.-J.W.)
- Peking University Health Science Center-Weifang Joint Research Center for Maternal and Child Health, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Li Yang
- Tongzhou Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital of Beijing, Beijing 101101, China;
| | - Hai-Jun Wang
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China; (T.Z.); (Y.S.); (J.L.); (H.-J.W.)
- Peking University Health Science Center-Weifang Joint Research Center for Maternal and Child Health, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Shenda Hong
- National Institute of Health Data Science, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China;
| | - Yuelong Ji
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China; (T.Z.); (Y.S.); (J.L.); (H.-J.W.)
- Peking University Health Science Center-Weifang Joint Research Center for Maternal and Child Health, Beijing 100191, China
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2
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Zhao L, Jones III JP, Anderson LG, Konsoula Z, Nevison CD, Reissner KJ, Parker W. Acetaminophen causes neurodevelopmental injury in susceptible babies and children: no valid rationale for controversy. Clin Exp Pediatr 2024; 67:126-139. [PMID: 37321575 PMCID: PMC10915458 DOI: 10.3345/cep.2022.01319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the worldwide acceptance of acetaminophen (APAP) as a necessary medicine in pediatrics, evidence that early exposure to APAP causes neurodevelopmental injury in susceptible babies and children has been mounting for over a decade. The evidence is diverse and includes extensive work with laboratory animals, otherwise unexplained associations, factors associated with APAP metabolism, and limited studies in humans. Although the evidence has reached an overwhelming level and was recently reviewed in detail, controversy persists. This narrative review evaluates some of that controversy. Evidence from the pre- and postpartum periods was considered to avoid controversy raised by consideration of only limited evidence of risks during the prepartum period. Among other issues, the association between APAP use and the prevalence of neurodevelopmental disorders was considered. A systematic review revealed that the use of APAP in the pediatric population was never tracked carefully; however, historical events that affected its use were documented and are sufficient to establish apparent correlations with changes in the prevalence of neurodevelopmental disorders. Moreover, problems with the exclusive reliance on results of meta-analyses of large datasets with limited time frames of drug exposure were reviewed. Furthermore, the evidence of why some children are susceptible to APAPinduced neurodevelopmental injuries was examined. We concluded that available evidence demonstrates that early exposure to APAP causes neurodevelopmental injury in susceptible babies and small children.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Cynthia D. Nevison
- Institute for Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Kathryn J. Reissner
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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3
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Parker W, Anderson LG, Jones JP, Anderson R, Williamson L, Bono-Lunn D, Konsoula Z. The Dangers of Acetaminophen for Neurodevelopment Outweigh Scant Evidence for Long-Term Benefits. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 11:44. [PMID: 38255358 PMCID: PMC10814214 DOI: 10.3390/children11010044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Based on available data that include approximately 20 lines of evidence from studies in laboratory animal models, observations in humans, correlations in time, and pharmacological/toxicological considerations, it has been concluded without reasonable doubt and with no evidence to the contrary that exposure of susceptible babies and children to acetaminophen (paracetamol) induces many, if not most, cases of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, the relative number of cases of ASD that might be induced by acetaminophen has not yet been estimated. Here, we examine a variety of evidence, including the acetaminophen-induced reduction of social awareness in adults, the prevalence of ASD through time, and crude estimates of the relative number of ASD cases induced by acetaminophen during various periods of neurodevelopment. We conclude that the very early postpartum period poses the greatest risk for acetaminophen-induced ASD, and that nearly ubiquitous use of acetaminophen during early development could conceivably be responsible for the induction in the vast majority, perhaps 90% or more, of all cases of ASD. Despite over a decade of accumulating evidence that acetaminophen is harmful for neurodevelopment, numerous studies demonstrate that acetaminophen is frequently administered to children in excess of currently approved amounts and under conditions in which it provides no benefit. Further, studies have failed to demonstrate long-term benefits of acetaminophen for the pediatric population, leaving no valid rationale for continued use of the drug in that population given its risks to neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Parker
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- WPLab, Inc., Durham, NC 27707, USA
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | | | | | | | - Lauren Williamson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY 41099, USA;
| | - Dillan Bono-Lunn
- Department of Public Policy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA;
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4
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Xie L, Qin J, Wang T, Zhang S, Luo M, Cheng X, Cao X, Wang H, Yao B, Xu D, Peng B. Impact of Prenatal Acetaminophen Exposure for Hippocampal Development Disorder on Mice. Mol Neurobiol 2023; 60:6916-6930. [PMID: 37516664 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03515-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are widely used as analgesic agents. They have been detected in various environmental matrices. The degradation of environmental contaminants and the long-term adverse effects have become a major public concern. Prenatal exposure to acetaminophen can cause damage to the developing hippocampus. However, the molecular mechanisms behind hippocampal damage following prenatal acetaminophen exposure (PAcE) remain unclear. The present study shows an increased risk of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in offspring following exposure to acetaminophen during pregnancy on mice. The results revealed that different doses, timings, and duration of exposure to acetaminophen during pregnancy were associated with dose-dependent changes in the hippocampus of the offspring. Furthermore, exposure to high doses, multiple-treatment courses, and late pregnancy induced pathological changes, such as wrinkling and vacuolation, inhibited hippocampal proliferation and increased apoptosis. In addition, PAcE significantly decreased the expression of genes related to synaptic development in fetal hippocampal neurons and hippocampal astrocyte and microglia were also damaged to varying degrees. The significant reduction either in SOX2, an essential gene in regulating neural progenitor cell proliferation, and reduction of genes related to the SOX2/Notch pathway may suggest that the role of SOX2/Notch pathway in impaired hippocampal development in the offspring due to PAcE. In general, PAcE at high doses, multiple-treatment courses, and mid- and late gestation were associated with neurodevelopmental toxicity to the offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lulu Xie
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University TaiKang Medical School (School of Basic Medical Sciences), Wuhan, China
- Department of Pediatrics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiaxin Qin
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University TaiKang Medical School (School of Basic Medical Sciences), Wuhan, China
- Department of Pediatrics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Tingting Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University TaiKang Medical School (School of Basic Medical Sciences), Wuhan, China
| | - Shuai Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University TaiKang Medical School (School of Basic Medical Sciences), Wuhan, China
| | - Mingcui Luo
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University TaiKang Medical School (School of Basic Medical Sciences), Wuhan, China
| | - Xuelei Cheng
- Department of Physiology, Wuhan University TaiKang Medical School (School of Basic Medical Sciences), Wuhan, China
| | - Xinrui Cao
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University TaiKang Medical School (School of Basic Medical Sciences), Wuhan, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Wuhan University TaiKang Medical School (School of Basic Medical Sciences), Wuhan, China
- Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, Wuhan, China
| | - Baozhen Yao
- Department of Pediatrics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
- Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, Wuhan, China.
| | - Dan Xu
- Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, Wuhan, China.
- Department of Pharmacy, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
| | - Biwen Peng
- Department of Physiology, Wuhan University TaiKang Medical School (School of Basic Medical Sciences), Wuhan, China.
- Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, Wuhan, China.
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5
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Wheeler S, Rai-Bhogal R, Crawford DA. Abnormal Microglial Density and Morphology in the Brain of Cyclooxygenase 2 Knockin Mice. Neuroscience 2023; 534:66-81. [PMID: 37863307 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2023.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is a signaling molecule produced by cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) that is important in healthy brain development. Anomalies in the COX-2/PGE2 pathway due to genetic or environmental factors have been linked to Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Our previous studies showed that COX-2 deficient (COX-2-KI) mice exhibit sex-dependent molecular changes in the brain and associated autism-related behaviors. Here, we aim to determine the effect of COX-2-KI on microglial density and morphology in the developing brain. Microglia normally transition between an amoeboid or ramified morphology depending on their surroundings and are important for the development of the healthy brain, assisting with synaptogenesis, synaptic pruning, and phagocytosis. We use COX-2-KI male and female mice to evaluate microglia density, morphology, and branch length and number in five brain regions (cerebellum, hippocampus, olfactory bulb, prefrontal cortex, and thalamus) at the gestational day 19 (G19) and postnatal day 25 (PN25). We discovered that COX2-KI females were affected at G19 with increased microglial density, altered percentage of amoeboid and ramified microglia, affected branch length, and decreased branching networks in a region-specific manner; these effects persisted to PN25 in select regions. Interestingly, while limited changes were found in G19 COX-2-KI males, at PN25 we found increased microglial density, higher percentages of ramified microglia, and increased branch counts, and length observed in nearly all brain regions tested. Overall, we show for the first time that the COX-2 deficiency in our ASD mouse model influences microglia morphology in a sex- and region- and stage-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Wheeler
- School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada; Neuroscience Graduate Diploma Program, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada
| | | | - Dorota A Crawford
- School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada; Neuroscience Graduate Diploma Program, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada; Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada.
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6
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Ament SA, Cortes-Gutierrez M, Herb BR, Mocci E, Colantuoni C, McCarthy MM. A single-cell genomic atlas for maturation of the human cerebellum during early childhood. Sci Transl Med 2023; 15:eade1283. [PMID: 37824600 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.ade1283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Inflammation early in life is a clinically established risk factor for autism spectrum disorders and schizophrenia, yet the impact of inflammation on human brain development is poorly understood. The cerebellum undergoes protracted postnatal maturation, making it especially susceptible to perturbations contributing to the risk of developing neurodevelopmental disorders. Here, using single-cell genomics of postmortem cerebellar brain samples, we characterized the postnatal development of cerebellar neurons and glia in 1- to 5-year-old children, comparing individuals who had died while experiencing inflammation with those who had died as a result of an accident. Our analyses revealed that inflammation and postnatal cerebellar maturation are associated with extensive, overlapping transcriptional changes primarily in two subtypes of inhibitory neurons: Purkinje neurons and Golgi neurons. Immunohistochemical analysis of a subset of these postmortem cerebellar samples revealed no change to Purkinje neuron soma size but evidence for increased activation of microglia in those children who had experienced inflammation. Maturation-associated and inflammation-associated gene expression changes included genes implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders. A gene regulatory network model integrating cell type-specific gene expression and chromatin accessibility identified seven temporally specific gene networks in Purkinje neurons and suggested that inflammation may be associated with the premature down-regulation of developmental gene expression programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seth A Ament
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- UM-MIND, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Marcia Cortes-Gutierrez
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Brian R Herb
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Evelina Mocci
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Pain Sciences, University of Maryland School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Carlo Colantuoni
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Departments of Neurology and Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Margaret M McCarthy
- UM-MIND, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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7
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Ni H, Guo Z, Wu Y, Wang J, Yang Y, Zhu Z, Wang D. The crucial role that hippocampus Cyclooxygenase-2 plays in memory. Eur J Neurosci 2023; 58:4123-4136. [PMID: 37867375 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.16165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
It is generally accepted that Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is activated to cause inflammation. However, COX-2 is also constitutively expressed at the postsynaptic dendrites and excitatory terminals of the cortical and spinal cord neurons. Although some evidence suggests that COX-2 release during neuronal signalling may be pivotal for regulating the function of memory, the significance of constitutively expressed COX-2 in neuron is still unclear. This research aims to discover the role of COX-2 in memory beyond neuroinflammation and to determine whether the inhibition of COX-2 can cause cognitive dysfunction by influencing dendritic plasticity and its underlying mechanism. We found COX-2 gene knockout (KO) could significantly impact the learning and memory ability, cause neuronal structure disorder and influence gamma oscillations. These might be mediated by the inhibition of prostaglandin (PG) E2/cAMP pathway and phosphorylated protein kinase A (p-PKA)-phosphorylated cAMP response element binding protein (p-CREB)-brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) axis. It suggested COX-2 might play a critical role in learning, regulating neuronal structure and gamma oscillations in the hippocampus CA1 by regulating COX-2/BDNF signalling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Ni
- Academy of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhongzhao Guo
- Academy of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yue Wu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jie Wang
- Department of Peripheral Vascular Surgery, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yang Yang
- Academy of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zilu Zhu
- School of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Deheng Wang
- School of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
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8
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Suarez LM, Diaz-Del Cerro E, Felix J, Gonzalez-Sanchez M, Ceprian N, Guerra-Perez N, G Novelle M, Martinez de Toda I, De la Fuente M. Sex differences in neuroimmunoendocrine communication. Involvement on longevity. Mech Ageing Dev 2023; 211:111798. [PMID: 36907251 DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2023.111798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2023]
Abstract
Endocrine, nervous, and immune systems work coordinately to maintain the global homeostasis of the organism. They show sex differences in their functions that, in turn, contribute to sex differences beyond reproductive function. Females display a better control of the energetic metabolism and improved neuroprotection and have more antioxidant defenses and a better inflammatory status than males, which is associated with a more robust immune response than that of males. These differences are present from the early stages of life, being more relevant in adulthood and influencing the aging trajectory in each sex and may contribute to the different life lifespan between sexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luz M Suarez
- Department of Genetics, Physiology, and Microbiology (Unit of Animal Physiology), Faculty of Biology, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Estefania Diaz-Del Cerro
- Department of Genetics, Physiology, and Microbiology (Unit of Animal Physiology), Faculty of Biology, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain; Institute of Investigation Hospital 12 Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Judith Felix
- Department of Genetics, Physiology, and Microbiology (Unit of Animal Physiology), Faculty of Biology, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain; Institute of Investigation Hospital 12 Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Monica Gonzalez-Sanchez
- Department of Genetics, Physiology, and Microbiology (Unit of Animal Physiology), Faculty of Biology, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain; Institute of Investigation Hospital 12 Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Noemi Ceprian
- Department of Genetics, Physiology, and Microbiology (Unit of Animal Physiology), Faculty of Biology, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain; Institute of Investigation Hospital 12 Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Natalia Guerra-Perez
- Department of Genetics, Physiology, and Microbiology (Unit of Animal Physiology), Faculty of Biology, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain; Institute of Investigation Hospital 12 Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta G Novelle
- Department of Genetics, Physiology, and Microbiology (Unit of Animal Physiology), Faculty of Biology, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Irene Martinez de Toda
- Department of Genetics, Physiology, and Microbiology (Unit of Animal Physiology), Faculty of Biology, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain; Institute of Investigation Hospital 12 Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Monica De la Fuente
- Department of Genetics, Physiology, and Microbiology (Unit of Animal Physiology), Faculty of Biology, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain; Institute of Investigation Hospital 12 Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain.
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9
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Patel E, Jones Iii JP, Bono-Lunn D, Kuchibhatla M, Palkar A, Cendejas Hernandez J, Sarafian JT, Lawton VG, Anderson LG, Konsoula Z, Reissner KJ, Parker W. The safety of pediatric use of paracetamol (acetaminophen): a narrative review of direct and indirect evidence. Minerva Pediatr (Torino) 2022; 74:774-788. [PMID: 35822581 DOI: 10.23736/s2724-5276.22.06932-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Paracetamol (acetaminophen) use during pregnancy and early childhood was accepted as safe in the 1970s, but is now a subject of considerable concern. Careful analysis shows that initial acceptance of the drug was based on the false assumption that drug interactions in babies and adults are the same, and on a complete absence of knowledge regarding the impact of the drug on brain development. At least fourteen epidemiological studies now indicate that prenatal exposure to paracetamol is associated with neurodevelopmental problems. Based on these studies, it can be concluded that prenatal exposure to paracetamol causes statistically significant risks of developmental delays, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and a subtype of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) associated with hyperkinetic behavior. In contrast, data regarding postnatal exposure to paracetamol are limited, and several factors impede a classic multivariate analysis of epidemiologic data to resolve the issue. However, circumstantial evidence regarding postnatal exposure to the drug is abundant, and includes at least three otherwise unexplained temporal relationships, data from laboratory animal studies, several miscellaneous and otherwise unexplained correlations, and a lack of alternative suspects that fit the evidence-derived profile. Based on this evidence, it can be concluded without any reasonable doubt that oxidative stress puts some babies and children at risk of paracetamol-induced neurodevelopmental injury, and that postnatal exposure to paracetamol in those susceptible babies and children is responsible for many if not most cases of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - John P Jones Iii
- WPLab, Inc. Durham, NC, USA.,Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Dillan Bono-Lunn
- Departments of Public Policy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Maragatha Kuchibhatla
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Antara Palkar
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Joshua T Sarafian
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Victoria G Lawton
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Lauren G Anderson
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Kathryn J Reissner
- Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.,Department of Neuroscience, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - William Parker
- WPLab, Inc. Durham, NC, USA - .,Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
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10
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Vaudin P, Augé C, Just N, Mhaouty-Kodja S, Mortaud S, Pillon D. When pharmaceutical drugs become environmental pollutants: Potential neural effects and underlying mechanisms. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 205:112495. [PMID: 34883077 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Pharmaceutical drugs have become consumer products, with a daily use for some of them. The volume of production and consumption of drugs is such that they have become environmental pollutants. Their transfer to wastewater through urine, feces or rinsing in case of skin use, associated with partial elimination by wastewater treatment plants generalize pollution in the hydrosphere, including drinking water, sediments, soils, the food chain and plants. Here, we review the potential effects of environmental exposure to three classes of pharmaceutical drugs, i.e. antibiotics, antidepressants and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, on neurodevelopment. Experimental studies analyzing their underlying modes of action including those related to endocrine disruption, and molecular mechanisms including epigenetic modifications are presented. In addition, the contribution of brain imaging to the assessment of adverse effects of these three classes of pharmaceuticals is approached.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascal Vaudin
- Physiologie de La Reproduction et des Comportements, CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, Université de Tours, PRC, F-37380, Nouzilly, France.
| | - Corinne Augé
- UMR 1253, IBrain, University of Tours, INSERM, 37000, Tours, France
| | - Nathalie Just
- Physiologie de La Reproduction et des Comportements, CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, Université de Tours, PRC, F-37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Sakina Mhaouty-Kodja
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, INSERM, Neuroscience Paris Seine - Institut de Biologie Paris Seine, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Stéphane Mortaud
- Immunologie et Neurogénétique Expérimentales et Moléculaires, UMR7355, CNRS, Université D'Orléans, 45000, Orléans, France
| | - Delphine Pillon
- Physiologie de La Reproduction et des Comportements, CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, Université de Tours, PRC, F-37380, Nouzilly, France
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11
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Bauer AZ, Swan SH, Kriebel D, Liew Z, Taylor HS, Bornehag CG, Andrade AM, Olsen J, Jensen RH, Mitchell RT, Skakkebaek NE, Jégou B, Kristensen DM. Paracetamol use during pregnancy - a call for precautionary action. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2021; 17:757-766. [PMID: 34556849 PMCID: PMC8580820 DOI: 10.1038/s41574-021-00553-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Paracetamol (N-acetyl-p-aminophenol (APAP), otherwise known as acetaminophen) is the active ingredient in more than 600 medications used to relieve mild to moderate pain and reduce fever. APAP is widely used by pregnant women as governmental agencies, including the FDA and EMA, have long considered APAP appropriate for use during pregnancy when used as directed. However, increasing experimental and epidemiological research suggests that prenatal exposure to APAP might alter fetal development, which could increase the risks of some neurodevelopmental, reproductive and urogenital disorders. Here we summarize this evidence and call for precautionary action through a focused research effort and by increasing awareness among health professionals and pregnant women. APAP is an important medication and alternatives for treatment of high fever and severe pain are limited. We recommend that pregnant women should be cautioned at the beginning of pregnancy to: forego APAP unless its use is medically indicated; consult with a physician or pharmacist if they are uncertain whether use is indicated and before using on a long-term basis; and minimize exposure by using the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time. We suggest specific actions to implement these recommendations. This Consensus Statement reflects our concerns and is currently supported by 91 scientists, clinicians and public health professionals from across the globe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann Z Bauer
- Department of Public Health, University of Massachusetts School of Health Sciences, Lowell, MA, USA
| | - Shanna H Swan
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, USA
| | - David Kriebel
- Department of Public Health, University of Massachusetts School of Health Sciences, Lowell, MA, USA
| | - Zeyan Liew
- Yale Center for Perinatal, Paediatric, and Environmental Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Hugh S Taylor
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, Yale-New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Carl-Gustaf Bornehag
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, USA
- Department of Health Sciences, Karlstad University, Karlstad, Sweden
| | - Anderson M Andrade
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Setor de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Jørn Olsen
- Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Rigmor H Jensen
- Department of Neurology, Danish Headache Center, Rigshospitalet-Glostrup, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Rod T Mitchell
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, Queens Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, Scotland
| | - Niels E Skakkebaek
- Department of Growth & Reproduction and EDMaRC, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Bernard Jégou
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) UMR_S, 1085, Rennes, France
| | - David M Kristensen
- Department of Neurology, Danish Headache Center, Rigshospitalet-Glostrup, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) UMR_S, 1085, Rennes, France.
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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12
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Kissoondoyal A, Rai-Bhogal R, Crawford DA. Abnormal dendritic morphology in the cerebellum of cyclooxygenase-2 - knockin mice. Eur J Neurosci 2021; 54:6355-6373. [PMID: 34510613 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is a bioactive signalling molecule metabolized from the phospholipid membranes by the enzymatic activity of cycloxygenase-2 (COX-2). In the developing brain, COX-2 constitutively regulates the production of PGE2, which is important in neuronal development. However, abnormal COX-2/PGE2 signalling has been linked to neurodevelopmental disorders including autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). We have previously demonstrated that COX-2- -KI mice show autism-related behaviours including social deficits, repetitive behaviours and anxious behaviours. COX-2-deficient mice also have deficits in pathways involved in synaptic transmission and dendritic spine formation. In this study, we use a Golgi-COX staining method to examine sex-dependent differences in dendritic and dendritic spine morphology in neurons of COX-2- -KI mice cerebellum compared with wild-type (WT) matched controls at postnatal day 25 (P25). We show that COX-2- -KI mice have increased dendritic arborization closer to the cell soma and increased dendritic looping. We also observed a sex-dependent effect of the COX-2- -KI on dendritic thickness, dendritic spine density, dendritic spine morphology, and the expression of β-actin and the actin-binding protein spinophilin. Our findings show that changes in COX-2/PGE2 signalling lead to impaired morphology of dendrites and dendritic spines in a sex-dependant manner and may contribute the pathology of the cerebellum seen in individuals with ASD. This study provides further evidence that the COX-2- -KI mouse model can be used to study a subset of ASD pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashby Kissoondoyal
- School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Neuroscience Graduate Diploma Program, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ravneet Rai-Bhogal
- Neuroscience Graduate Diploma Program, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Dorota A Crawford
- School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Neuroscience Graduate Diploma Program, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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13
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Suda N, Cendejas Hernandez J, Poulton J, Jones JP, Konsoula Z, Smith C, Parker W. Therapeutic doses of acetaminophen with co-administration of cysteine and mannitol during early development result in long term behavioral changes in laboratory rats. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0253543. [PMID: 34170958 PMCID: PMC8232535 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0253543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Based on several lines of evidence, numerous investigators have suggested that acetaminophen exposure during early development can induce neurological disorders. We had previously postulated that acetaminophen exposure early in life, if combined with antioxidants that prevent accumulation of NAPQI, the toxic metabolite of acetaminophen, might be innocuous. In this study, we administered acetaminophen at or below the currently recommended therapeutic dose to male laboratory rat pups aged 4-10 days. The antioxidants cysteine and mannitol were included to prevent accumulation of NAPQI. In addition, animals were exposed to a cassette of common stress factors: an inflammatory diet, psychological stress, antibiotics, and mock infections using killed bacteria. At age 37-49 days, observation during introduction to a novel conspecific revealed increased rearing behavior, an asocial activity, in animals treated with acetaminophen plus antioxidants, regardless of their exposure to oxidative stress factors (2-way ANOVA; P < 0.0001). This observation would suggest that the initial hypothesis is incorrect, and that oxidative stress mediators do not entirely eliminate the effects of acetaminophen on neurodevelopment. This study provides additional cause for caution when considering the use of acetaminophen in the pediatric population, and provides evidence that the effects of acetaminophen on neurodevelopment need to be considered both in the presence and in the absence of oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Navneet Suda
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States of America
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University and Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - Jasmine Cendejas Hernandez
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States of America
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University and Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - John Poulton
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States of America
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University and Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - John P. Jones
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States of America
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University and Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - Zacharoula Konsoula
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States of America
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University and Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - Caroline Smith
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Duke Institute for Brain Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - William Parker
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States of America
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University and Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States of America
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14
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Uema S, Horita M, Takadera T. Protective effects of calcium ions via L-type calcium channels and NMDA receptors on prostaglandin E 2-induced apoptosis in rat cortical cells. Mol Biol Rep 2021; 48:4517-4525. [PMID: 34089465 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-021-06472-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Calcium ions mediate a variety of physiological responses of developing neurons including survival. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of calcium influx through L-type calcium channels (LTCCs) or NMDA receptors on prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)-induced apoptosis in rat cortical cells. Cultures of rat cortical cells were prepared from an embryonic day 18 rat neocortex. After culturing for 2 or 8 days in vitro (DIV), the cells were subjected to PGE2 treatment for 48 h. FPL64176, an LTCC agonist, protected the cells at 2 and 8 DIV from PGE2-induced apoptosis. On the other hand, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), an agonist of NMDA receptor, protected the cells from PGE2-induced apoptosis only at 8 DIV. FPL64176 increased the calcium levels at 2 and 8 DIV, whereas NMDA increased the calcium levels only at 8 DIV. The protective effects of the LTCC agonist and NMDA on PGE2-induced apoptosis were blocked following treatment of the cells with protein kinase C inhibitors. Our results suggest that LTCCs and NMDA receptors modulate the cell death of developing cortical neurons possibly through a protein kinase C pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shota Uema
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokuriku University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Mizue Horita
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokuriku University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Tsuneo Takadera
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokuriku University, Kanazawa, Japan.
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15
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Prostaglandin E2 Increases Neurite Length and the Formation of Axonal Loops, and Regulates Cone Turning in Differentiating NE4C Cells Via PKA. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2021; 42:1385-1397. [PMID: 33389417 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-020-01029-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is a membrane-derived lipid signaling molecule important in neuronal development. Abnormal levels of PGE2, due to environmental insults prenatal development, have been linked to brain pathologies. We have previously shown that the addition of PGE2 to neuroectodermal (NE4C) stem cells affects early stages of neuronal differentiation (day 0-8) including increased stem cell motility, accelerated formation of neurospheres, and elevated calcium levels in growth cones. In this study, we further examine whether PGE2 can influence actin-dependent neuronal morphology in later stages (day 8-12) of NE4C cell differentiation. We show that exposure to PGE2 from the initiation of differentiation increased neurite length and the proportion of neurites that formed axonal loops. We also observed changes in the proportion of turning growth cones as the differentiation progressed, with a reduced likelihood of observing turning (or asymmetrical) growth cones on day 8 and increased odds on days 10 and 12. Moreover, we showed for the first time that the observed changes in cytoskeletal morphology were PGE2/PKA dependent. Interestingly, we also found that PGE2 decreased the total protein levels of the actin-bound form of spinophilin and increased levels of unbound PKA-phosphorylated ser94-spinophilin. Hence, we propose that exposure to PGE2 can destabilize the actin cytoskeleton at various stages of neuronal differentiation due to dissociation of ser94-spinophilin causing changes in neuronal morphology.
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16
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Saldanha CJ. Estrogen as a Neuroprotectant in Both Sexes: Stories From the Bird Brain. Front Neurol 2020; 11:497. [PMID: 32655477 PMCID: PMC7324752 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.00497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Estrogens such as estradiol (E2) are potent effectors of neural structure and function via peripheral and central synthesis. In the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata), neural E2 synthesis is among the highest reported in homeotherms due to the abundant constitutive expression of aromatase (E-synthase) in discrete neuronal pools across the forebrain. Following penetrating or concussive trauma, E2 synthesis increases even further via the induced expression of aromatase in reactive astrocytes around the site of damage. Injury-associated astrocytic aromatization occurs in the brains of both sexes regardless of the site of injury and can remain elevated for weeks following trauma. Interestingly, penetrating injury induces astrocytic aromatase more rapidly in females compared to males, but this sex difference is not detectable 24 h posttrauma. Indeed, unilateral penetrating injury can increase E2 content 4-fold relative to the contralateral uninjured hemisphere, suggesting that glial aromatization may be a powerful source of neural E2 available to circuits. Glial aromatization is neuroprotective as inhibition of injury-induced aromatase increases neuroinflammation, gliosis, necrosis, apoptosis, and infarct size. These effects are ameliorated upon replacement with E2, suggesting that the songbird may have evolved a rapidly responsive neurosteroidogenic system to protect vulnerable brain circuits. The precise signals that induce aromatase expression in astrocytes include elements of the inflammatory cascade and underscore the sentinel role of the innate immune system as a crucial effector of trauma-associated E2 provision in the vertebrate brain. This review will describe the inductive signals of astroglial aromatase and the neuroprotective role for glial E2 synthesis in the adult songbird brains of both sexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin J Saldanha
- Departments of Neuroscience, Biology, Psychology & The Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, American University, Washington, DC, United States
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17
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Arambula SE, McCarthy MM. Neuroendocrine-Immune Crosstalk Shapes Sex-Specific Brain Development. Endocrinology 2020; 161:bqaa055. [PMID: 32270188 PMCID: PMC7217281 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqaa055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Sex is an essential biological variable that significantly impacts multiple aspects of neural functioning in both the healthy and diseased brain. Sex differences in brain structure and function are organized early in development during the critical period of sexual differentiation. While decades of research establish gonadal hormones as the primary modulators of this process, new research has revealed a critical, and perhaps underappreciated, role of the neuroimmune system in sex-specific brain development. The immune and endocrine systems are tightly intertwined and share processes and effector molecules that influence the nervous system. Thus, a natural question is whether endocrine-immune crosstalk contributes to sexual differentiation of the brain. In this mini-review, we first provide a conceptual framework by classifying the major categories of neural sex differences and review the concept of sexual differentiation of the brain, a process occurring early in development and largely controlled by steroid hormones. Next, we describe developmental sex differences in the neuroimmune system, which may represent targets or mediators of the sexual differentiation process. We then discuss the overwhelming evidence in support of crosstalk between the neuroendocrine and immune systems and highlight recent examples that shape sex differences in the brain. Finally, we review how early life events can perturb sex-specific neurodevelopment via aberrant immune activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheryl E Arambula
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Margaret M McCarthy
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
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18
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Dieni CV, Contemori S, Biscarini A, Panichi R. De Novo Synthesized Estradiol: A Role in Modulating the Cerebellar Function. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21093316. [PMID: 32392845 PMCID: PMC7247543 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21093316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Revised: 04/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The estrogen estradiol is a potent neuroactive steroid that may regulate brain structure and function. Although the effects of estradiol have been historically associated with gonadal secretion, the discovery that this steroid may be synthesized within the brain has expanded this traditional concept. Indeed, it is accepted that de novo synthesized estradiol in the nervous system (nE2) may modulate several aspects of neuronal physiology, including synaptic transmission and plasticity, thereby influencing a variety of behaviors. These modulations may be on a time scale of minutes via non-classical and often membrane-initiated mechanisms or hours and days by classical actions on gene transcription. Besides the high level, recent investigations in the cerebellum indicate that even a low aromatase expression can be related to the fast nE2 effect on brain functioning. These pieces of evidence point to the importance of an on-demand and localized nE2 synthesis to rapidly contribute to regulating the synaptic transmission. This review is geared at exploring a new scenario for the impact of estradiol on brain processes as it emerges from the nE2 action on cerebellar neurotransmission and cerebellum-dependent learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina V. Dieni
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
- Correspondence: (C.V.D.); (R.P.); Tel.: +1-(205)-996-8660 (C.V.D.); +39-075-5858205 (R.P.)
| | - Samuele Contemori
- Centre for Sensorimotor Performance, School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia;
| | - Andrea Biscarini
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Physiology and Biochemistry, University of Perugia, 06129 Perugia, Italy;
| | - Roberto Panichi
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Physiology and Biochemistry, University of Perugia, 06129 Perugia, Italy;
- Correspondence: (C.V.D.); (R.P.); Tel.: +1-(205)-996-8660 (C.V.D.); +39-075-5858205 (R.P.)
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19
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Perez-Pouchoulen M, Yu SJ, Roby CR, Bonsavage N, McCarthy MM. Regulatory Control of Microglial Phagocytosis by Estradiol and Prostaglandin E2 in the Developing Rat Cerebellum. THE CEREBELLUM 2020; 18:882-895. [PMID: 31435854 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-019-01071-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Microglia are essential to sculpting the developing brain, and they achieve this in part through the process of phagocytosis which is regulated by microenvironmental signals associated with cell death and synaptic connectivity. In the rat cerebellum, microglial phagocytosis reaches its highest activity during the third postnatal week of development but the factors regulating this activity are unknown. A signaling pathway, involving prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) stimulation of the estrogen synthetic enzyme aromatase, peaks during the 2nd postnatal week and is a critical regulator of Purkinje cell maturation. We explored the relationship between the PGE2-estradiol pathway and microglia in the maturing cerebellum. Toward that end, we treated developing rat pups with pharmacological inhibitors of estradiol and PGE2 synthesis and then stained microglia with the universal marker Iba1 and quantified microglia engaged in phagocytosis as well as phagocytic cups in the vermis and cerebellar hemispheres. Inhibition of aromatase reduced the number of phagocytic cups in the vermis, but not in the cerebellar hemisphere at postnatal day 17. Similar results were found after treatment with nimesulide and indomethacin, inhibitors of the PGE2-producing enzymes cyclooxygenase 1 and 2. In contrast, treatment with estradiol or PGE2 had little effect on microglial phagocytosis in the developing cerebellum. Thus, endogenous estrogens and prostaglandins upregulate the phagocytic activity of microglia during a select window of postnatal cerebellar development, but exogenous treatment with these same signaling molecules does not further increase the already high levels of phagocytosis. This may be due to an upper threshold or evidence of resistance to exogenous perturbation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Perez-Pouchoulen
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 670 W. Baltimore Street, HSFIII 9-130, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
| | - Stacey J Yu
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 670 W. Baltimore Street, HSFIII 9-130, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Clinton R Roby
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 670 W. Baltimore Street, HSFIII 9-130, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Nicole Bonsavage
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 670 W. Baltimore Street, HSFIII 9-130, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Margaret M McCarthy
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 670 W. Baltimore Street, HSFIII 9-130, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
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20
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VanRyzin JW, Marquardt AE, McCarthy MM. Developmental origins of sex differences in the neural circuitry of play. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PLAY 2020; 9:58-75. [PMID: 33717644 PMCID: PMC7954123 DOI: 10.1080/21594937.2020.1723370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 01/24/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Social play consists of reciprocal physical interactions between conspecifics with many features conserved across species, including the propensity for males to engage in play more frequently and with higher physical intensity. Animal models, such as the laboratory rat, reveal that the underlying neural circuitry of play is subject to sexual differentiation during a critical period early in life. In this review, we discuss the developmental processes that produce distinct neural nodes which modulate both shared and sex-specific aspects of play with a focus on the medial amygdala, lateral septum, and prefrontal cortex. While the cellular mechanisms determining sex differences in play are beginning to be uncovered, the ultimate advantages of play continue to be debated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan W. VanRyzin
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Ashley E Marquardt
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Margaret M McCarthy
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
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21
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Ji Y, Azuine RE, Zhang Y, Hou W, Hong X, Wang G, Riley A, Pearson C, Zuckerman B, Wang X. Association of Cord Plasma Biomarkers of In Utero Acetaminophen Exposure With Risk of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder in Childhood. JAMA Psychiatry 2020; 77:180-189. [PMID: 31664451 PMCID: PMC6822099 DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2019.3259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Prior studies have raised concern about maternal acetaminophen use during pregnancy and increased risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in their children; however, most studies have relied on maternal self-report. OBJECTIVE To examine the prospective associations between cord plasma acetaminophen metabolites and physician-diagnosed ADHD, ASD, both ADHD and ASD, and developmental disabilities (DDs) in childhood. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This prospective cohort study analyzed 996 mother-infant dyads, a subset of the Boston Birth Cohort, who were enrolled at birth and followed up prospectively at the Boston Medical Center from October 1, 1998, to June 30, 2018. EXPOSURES Three cord acetaminophen metabolites (unchanged acetaminophen, acetaminophen glucuronide, and 3-[N-acetyl-l-cystein-S-yl]-acetaminophen) were measured in archived cord plasma samples collected at birth. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Physician-diagnosed ADHD, ASD, and other DDs as documented in the child's medical records. RESULTS Of 996 participants (mean [SD] age, 9.8 [3.9] years; 548 [55.0%] male), the final sample included 257 children (25.8%) with ADHD only, 66 (6.6%) with ASD only, 42 (4.2%) with both ADHD and ASD, 304 (30.5%) with other DDs, and 327 (32.8%) who were neurotypical. Unchanged acetaminophen levels were detectable in all cord plasma samples. Compared with being in the first tertile, being in the second and third tertiles of cord acetaminophen burden was associated with higher odds of ADHD diagnosis (odds ratio [OR] for second tertile, 2.26; 95% CI, 1.40-3.69; OR for third tertile, 2.86; 95% CI, 1.77-4.67) and ASD diagnosis (OR for second tertile, 2.14; 95% CI, 0.93-5.13; OR for third tertile, 3.62; 95% CI, 1.62-8.60). Sensitivity analyses and subgroup analyses found consistent associations between acetaminophen buden and ADHD and acetaminophen burden and ASD across strata of potential confounders, including maternal indication, substance use, preterm birth, and child age and sex, for which point estimates for the ORs vary from 2.3 to 3.5 for ADHD and 1.6 to 4.1 for ASD. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Cord biomarkers of fetal exposure to acetaminophen were associated with significantly increased risk of childhood ADHD and ASD in a dose-response fashion. Our findings support previous studies regarding the association between prenatal and perinatal acetaminophen exposure and childhood neurodevelopmental risk and warrant additional investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuelong Ji
- Center on the Early Life Origins of Disease, Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Romuladus E. Azuine
- Division of Research, Office of Epidemiology and Research, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, US Department of Health and Human Services, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Wenpin Hou
- Department of Computer Science, Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Xiumei Hong
- Center on the Early Life Origins of Disease, Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Guoying Wang
- Center on the Early Life Origins of Disease, Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Anne Riley
- Center on the Early Life Origins of Disease, Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Colleen Pearson
- Department of Pediatrics, Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Barry Zuckerman
- Department of Pediatrics, Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Xiaobin Wang
- Center on the Early Life Origins of Disease, Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland,Division of General Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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22
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Saugstad OD. Acetaminophen and the Developing Brain: Reason for Concern? Neonatology 2020; 117:245-248. [PMID: 32615557 DOI: 10.1159/000505954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2019] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ola Didrik Saugstad
- Department of Pediatric Research, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway, .,Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA,
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Duncan KA, Saldanha CJ. Central aromatization: A dramatic and responsive defense against threat and trauma to the vertebrate brain. Front Neuroendocrinol 2020; 56:100816. [PMID: 31786088 PMCID: PMC9366903 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2019.100816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2019] [Revised: 11/15/2019] [Accepted: 11/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Aromatase is the requisite and limiting enzyme in the production of estrogens from androgens. Estrogens synthesized centrally have more recently emerged as potent neuroprotectants in the vertebrate brain. Studies in rodents and songbirds have identified key mechanisms that underlie both; the injury-dependent induction of central aromatization, and the protective effects of centrally synthesized estrogens. Injury-induced aromatase expression in astrocytes occurs following a broad range of traumatic brain damage including excitotoxic, penetrating, and concussive injury. Responses to neural insult such as edema and inflammation involve signaling pathways the components of which are excellent candidates as inducers of this astrocytic response. Finally, estradiol from astrocytes exerts a paracrine neuroprotective influence via the potent inhibition of inflammatory pathways. Taken together, these data suggest a novel role for neural aromatization as a protective mechanism against the threat of inflammation and suggests that central estrogen provision is a wide-ranging neuroprotectant in the vertebrate brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelli A Duncan
- Department of Biology, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY 12604, United States.
| | - Colin J Saldanha
- Department of Biology and Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, American University, Washington, DC 20016, United States.
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24
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R G A. Gestational caffeine exposure acts as a fetal thyroid-cytokine disruptor by activating caspase-3/BAX/Bcl-2/Cox2/NF-κB at ED 20. Toxicol Res (Camb) 2019; 8:196-205. [PMID: 30997021 PMCID: PMC6415617 DOI: 10.1039/c8tx00227d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2018] [Accepted: 11/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The objective of this examination was to explore the impact of gestational caffeine (1,3,7-trimethylxanthine) exposure on the maternofetal thyroid axis and fetal thyroid-cytokine communications during gestation. Pregnant rats (Rattus norvegicus) were intraperitoneally administered caffeine (120 or 150 mg kg-1) from gestation day (GD) 1 to 20. Both doses of caffeine resulted in maternal hyperthyroidism, whereas the elevation in the concentration of serum free triiodothyronine (FT3) and free thyroxine (FT4) was related to a depletion in the level of TSH at GD 20. Maternal body weight gain and food consumption were markedly increased, while fetal body weight was significantly reduced. These alterations caused fetal hypothyroidism and several pathological lesions in the fetal thyroid gland including a vacuolar colloid, destructive degeneration, atrophy and hyperplasia at embryonic day (ED) 20. The abnormalities in the fetal thyroid gland seemed to depend on the activation of caspase-3, Bcl-2, BAX, Cox2, and NF-κB mRNA expression. Both maternal caffeine doses caused a marked attenuation in the values of fetal serum GH, IGF-II, VEGF, TGF-β, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, leptin and MCP-1, and a noticeable elevation in the value of fetal serum adiponectin at ED 20. Thus, gestational caffeine exposure might disrupt the fetal thyroid-cytokine axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed R G
- Division of Anatomy and Embryology , Zoology Department , Faculty of Science , Beni-Suef University , Beni-Suef , Egypt . ;
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25
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Wright CL, Hoffman JH, McCarthy MM. Evidence that inflammation promotes estradiol synthesis in human cerebellum during early childhood. Transl Psychiatry 2019; 9:58. [PMID: 30705253 PMCID: PMC6355799 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-018-0363-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2018] [Accepted: 11/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Discovering and characterizing critical and sensitive periods in brain development is essential for unraveling the myriad variables that impact disease risk. In previous work, we identified a critical period in cerebellar development in the rat that depends upon an intrinsic gene expression program and links increased prostaglandin production to local estradiol synthesis by stimulating Cyp19a, the estradiol synthetic enzyme, aromatase. This intrinsic critical period is sensitive to disruption by either inflammation or administration of cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors, ultimately impacting Purkinje cell dendritic growth. In a first step towards determining if a similar sensitive period exists in humans, the same gene expression profile was characterized in post-mortem cerebellar tissue of 58 children aged 0 to 9 years. Subjects were categorized as experiencing inflammation or not at the time of death. In individuals experiencing inflammation and over 1 year of age, there was a significant increase in the messenger RNA (mRNA) of the COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes and this strongly correlated with mRNA levels of aromatase. A step-wise linear model accounted for 94% of the variance in aromatase mRNA levels by co-variance with the COX enzymes, prostaglandin E2 synthase and other inflammatory mediators (Toll-like receptor 4), and Purkinje cell markers (calbindin, estrogen receptor 2). The influence of inflammation on these measures was not seen in subjects younger than 1 year. These data suggest a sensitive period to inflammation in the human cerebellum begins at about 1 year of age and may provide insight into sources of vulnerability of very young children to either inflammation or drugs designed to treat it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher L Wright
- Department of Pharmacology and Program in Neuroscience, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Jessica H Hoffman
- Department of Pharmacology and Program in Neuroscience, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Margaret M McCarthy
- Department of Pharmacology and Program in Neuroscience, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
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26
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Wong CT, Bestard-Lorigados I, Crawford DA. Autism-related behaviors in the cyclooxygenase-2-deficient mouse model. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2018; 18:e12506. [PMID: 30027581 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2018] [Revised: 07/16/2018] [Accepted: 07/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is an endogenous lipid molecule involved in normal brain development. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) is the main regulator of PGE2 synthesis. Emerging clinical and molecular research provides compelling evidence that abnormal COX2/PGE2 signaling is associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We previously found that COX2 knockout mice had dysregulated expression of many ASD genes belonging to important biological pathways for neurodevelopment. The present study is the first to show the connection between irregular COX2/PGE2 signaling and autism-related behaviors in male and female COX2-deficient knockin, (COX)-2- , mice at young (4-6 weeks) or adult (8-11 weeks) ages. Autism-related behaviors were prominent in male (COX)-2- mice for most behavioral tests. In the open field test, (COX)-2- mice traveled more than controls and adult male (COX)-2- mice spent less time in the center indicating elevated hyperactive and anxiety-linked behaviors. (COX)-2- mice also buried more marbles, with males burying more than females, suggesting increased anxiety and repetitive behaviors. Young male (COX)-2- mice fell more frequently in the inverted screen test revealing motor deficits. The three-chamber sociability test found that adult female (COX)-2- mice spent less time in the novel mouse chamber indicative of social abnormalities. In addition, male (COX)-2- mice showed altered expression of several autism-linked genes: Wnt2, Glo1, Grm5 and Mmp9. Overall, our findings offer new insight into the involvement of disrupted COX2/PGE2 signaling in ASD pathology with age-related differences and greater impact on males. We propose that (COX)-2- mice might serve as a novel model system to study specific types of autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine T Wong
- School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Neuroscience Graduate Diploma Program, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Isabel Bestard-Lorigados
- School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Neuroscience Graduate Diploma Program, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Dorota A Crawford
- School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Neuroscience Graduate Diploma Program, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
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27
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Maternal Biomarkers of Acetaminophen Use and Offspring Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Brain Sci 2018; 8:brainsci8070127. [PMID: 29970852 PMCID: PMC6071105 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci8070127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2018] [Revised: 06/27/2018] [Accepted: 06/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have suggested a positive association between self-reported maternal acetaminophen use during pregnancy and risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in offspring. We sought to examine the prospective association between maternal plasma biomarkers of acetaminophen intake and ADHD diagnosis in the offspring. This report analyzed 1180 children enrolled at birth and followed prospectively as part of the Boston Birth Cohort, including 188 with ADHD diagnosis based on electronic medical record review. Maternal biomarkers of acetaminophen intake were measured in plasma samples obtained within 1–3 days postpartum. Odds ratios for having ADHD diagnosis or other developmental disorders were estimated using multinomial logistic regression models, adjusting for pertinent covariables. Compared to neurotypical children, we observed significant positive dose-responsive associations with ADHD diagnosis for each maternal acetaminophen biomarker. These dose–responsive associations persisted after adjusting for indication of acetaminophen use and other pertinent covariates; and were specific to ADHD, rather than other neurodevelopmental disorders. In the stratified analyses, differential point estimates of the associations were observed across some strata of covariates. However, these differences were not statistically significant. Maternal acetaminophen biomarkers were specifically associated with increased risk of ADHD diagnosis in offspring. Additional clinical and mechanistic investigations are warranted.
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Bauer AZ, Kriebel D, Herbert MR, Bornehag CG, Swan SH. Prenatal paracetamol exposure and child neurodevelopment: A review. Horm Behav 2018; 101:125-147. [PMID: 29341895 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2018.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2017] [Revised: 12/09/2017] [Accepted: 01/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The non-prescription medication paracetamol (acetaminophen, APAP) is currently recommended as a safe pain and fever treatment during pregnancy. However, recent studies suggest a possible association between APAP use in pregnancy and offspring neurodevelopment. OBJECTIVES To conduct a review of publications reporting associations between prenatal APAP use and offspring neurodevelopmental outcomes. METHODS Relevant sources were identified through a key word search of multiple databases (Medline, CINAHL, OVID and TOXNET) in September 2016. All English language observational studies of pregnancy APAP and three classes of neurodevelopmental outcomes (autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and intelligence quotient (IQ)) were included. One reviewer (AZB) independently screened all titles and abstracts, extracted and analyzed the data. RESULTS 64 studies were retrieved and 55 were ineligible. Nine prospective cohort studies fulfilled all inclusion criteria. Data pooling was not appropriate due to heterogeneity in outcomes. All included studies suggested an association between prenatal APAP exposure and the neurodevelopmental outcomes; ADHD, ASD, or lower IQ. Longer duration of APAP use was associated with increased risk. Associations were strongest for hyperactivity and attention-related outcomes. Little modification of associations by indication for use was reported. CONCLUSIONS Together, these nine studies suggest an increased risk of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes following prenatal APAP exposure. Further studies are urgently needed with; precise indication of use and exposure assessment of use both in utero and in early life. Given the current findings, pregnant women should be cautioned against indiscriminate use of APAP. These results have substantial public health implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann Z Bauer
- Department of Public Health, University of Massachusetts, 1 University Avenue, Lowell, MA, 01854, USA.
| | - David Kriebel
- Department of Public Health, University of Massachusetts, 1 University Avenue, Lowell, MA, 01854, USA.
| | - Martha R Herbert
- Department of Neurology, MGH, Harvard Medical School, A.A. Martinos Centre for Biomedical Imaging, MGH/MIT/Harvard 149 Thirteenth Street, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Carl-Gustaf Bornehag
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY 10029, USA; Department of Health Sciences, Karlstad University, Karlstad, Sweden.
| | - Shanna H Swan
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY 10029, USA.
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29
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Pedersen AL, Brownrout JL, Saldanha CJ. Neuroinflammation and neurosteroidogenesis: Reciprocal modulation during injury to the adult zebra finch brain. Physiol Behav 2018; 187:51-56. [DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2017.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2017] [Revised: 10/11/2017] [Accepted: 10/11/2017] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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30
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Rai-Bhogal R, Ahmad E, Li H, Crawford DA. Microarray analysis of gene expression in the cyclooxygenase knockout mice - a connection to autism spectrum disorder. Eur J Neurosci 2017; 47:750-766. [PMID: 29161772 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.13781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2017] [Revised: 11/11/2017] [Accepted: 11/14/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The cellular and molecular events that take place during brain development play an important role in governing function of the mature brain. Lipid-signalling molecules such as prostaglandin E2 (PGE2 ) play an important role in healthy brain development. Abnormalities along the COX-PGE2 signalling pathway due to genetic or environmental causes have been linked to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study aims to evaluate the effect of altered COX-PGE2 signalling on development and function of the prenatal brain using male mice lacking cyclooxygenase-1 and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-1-/- and COX-2-/- ) as potential model systems of ASD. Microarray analysis was used to determine global changes in gene expression during embryonic days 16 (E16) and 19 (E19). Gene Ontology: Biological Process (GO:BP) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) were implemented to identify affected developmental genes and cellular processes. We found that in both knockouts the brain at E16 had nearly twice as many differentially expressed genes, and affected biological pathways containing various ASD-associated genes important in neuronal function. Interestingly, using GeneMANIA and Cytoscape we also show that the ASD-risk genes identified in both COX-1-/- and COX-2-/- models belong to protein-interaction networks important for brain development despite of different cellular localization of these enzymes. Lastly, we identified eight genes that belong to the Wnt signalling pathways exclusively in the COX-2-/- mice at E16. The level of PKA-phosphorylated β-catenin (S552), a major activator of the Wnt pathway, was increased in this model, suggesting crosstalk between the COX-2-PGE2 and Wnt pathways during early brain development. Overall, these results provide further molecular insight into the contribution of the COX-PGE2 pathways to ASD and demonstrate that COX-1-/- and COX-2-/- animals might be suitable new model systems for studying the disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravneet Rai-Bhogal
- Neuroscience Graduate Diploma Program, York University, Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3, Canada.,Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Eizaaz Ahmad
- Neuroscience Graduate Diploma Program, York University, Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3, Canada.,Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Hongyan Li
- School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Dorota A Crawford
- Neuroscience Graduate Diploma Program, York University, Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3, Canada.,Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada.,School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
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31
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Activation of the peripheral immune system regulates neuronal aromatase in the adult zebra finch brain. Sci Rep 2017; 7:10191. [PMID: 28860515 PMCID: PMC5579002 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-10573-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2017] [Accepted: 08/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Estradiol provision via neural aromatization decreases neuro-inflammation and –degeneration, but almost nothing is known about the interactions between the peripheral immune system and brain aromatase. Given the vulnerability of the CNS we reasoned that brain aromatization may protect circuits from the threats of peripheral infection; perhaps shielding cells that are less resilient from the degeneration associated with peripheral infection or trauma. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or vehicle was administered peripherally to adult zebra finches and sickness behavior was recorded 2 or 24 hours later. The central transcription of cytokines and aromatase was measured, as were telencephalic aromatase activity and immunoreactive aromatase (24 hour time point only). Two hours post LPS, sickness-like behaviors increased, the transcription of IL-1β was higher in both sexes, and TNFα was elevated in females. 24 hours post-LPS, the behavior of LPS birds was similar to controls, and cytokines had returned to baseline, but aromatase mRNA and activity were elevated in both sexes. Immunocytochemistry revealed greater numbers of aromatase-expressing neurons in LPS birds. These data suggest that the activation of the immune system via peripheral endotoxin increases neuronal aromatase; a mechanism that may rapidly generate a potent anti-neuroinflammatory steroid in response to peripheral activation of the immune system.
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32
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Pedersen AL, Brownrout JL, Saldanha CJ. Central Administration of Indomethacin Mitigates the Injury-Induced Upregulation of Aromatase Expression and Estradiol Content in the Zebra Finch Brain. Endocrinology 2017; 158:2585-2592. [PMID: 28575175 PMCID: PMC5551551 DOI: 10.1210/en.2017-00346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2017] [Accepted: 05/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Injury to the vertebrate brain causes neuroinflammation, characterized in part by increases in prostaglandins. In rodents and songbirds, brain injury also induces the transcription and translation of aromatase in reactive astrocytes around the site of damage. Interestingly, this induction is more rapid in female zebra finches relative to males. Induced aromatization is neuroprotective, as inhibition of aromatase and estrogen replacement, increases and decreases the extent of damage, respectively. Although the consequences of induced astrocytic aromatization are intensely studied, little is known about what factors induce aromatase. Inflammation is sufficient to induce astrocytic aromatase suggesting that the link between inflammation and aromatase expression may be causal. To test this hypothesis, adult male and female zebra finches received bilateral mechanical injuries through which either the cyclooxygenase (COX)-1/2 inhibitor indomethacin or vehicle was administered into contralateral hemispheres. Subjects were killed either 6 or 24 hours after injury. In both sexes, an enzyme immunoassay for prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) revealed that indomethacin decreased PGE2 relative to the contralateral hemisphere at both time points, suggesting that the dose and mode of administration used were successful in affecting neuroinflammation locally. Indomethacin reduced aromatase expression and 17β-estradiol (E2) content at 6 hours but not 24 hours following injury in females. However, in males, the inhibitory effect of indomethacin on aromatase and E2 was apparent at 24 but not 6 hours after treatment. These data suggest that COX activity, perhaps via consequent prostaglandin secretion, may induce aromatase expression and central E2, an effect that is detectable in temporally distinct patterns between sexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa L. Pedersen
- Department of Biology, Behavior, Cognition, and Neuroscience Program, and the Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, American University, Washington, DC 20016
| | - Jenna L. Brownrout
- Department of Biology, Behavior, Cognition, and Neuroscience Program, and the Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, American University, Washington, DC 20016
| | - Colin J. Saldanha
- Department of Biology, Behavior, Cognition, and Neuroscience Program, and the Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, American University, Washington, DC 20016
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33
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Parker W, Hornik CD, Bilbo S, Holzknecht ZE, Gentry L, Rao R, Lin SS, Herbert MR, Nevison CD. The role of oxidative stress, inflammation and acetaminophen exposure from birth to early childhood in the induction of autism. J Int Med Res 2017; 45:407-438. [PMID: 28415925 PMCID: PMC5536672 DOI: 10.1177/0300060517693423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The wide range of factors associated with the induction of autism is invariably linked with either inflammation or oxidative stress, and sometimes both. The use of acetaminophen in babies and young children may be much more strongly associated with autism than its use during pregnancy, perhaps because of well-known deficiencies in the metabolic breakdown of pharmaceuticals during early development. Thus, one explanation for the increased prevalence of autism is that increased exposure to acetaminophen, exacerbated by inflammation and oxidative stress, is neurotoxic in babies and small children. This view mandates extreme urgency in probing the long-term effects of acetaminophen use in babies and the possibility that many cases of infantile autism may actually be induced by acetaminophen exposure shortly after birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Parker
- 1 Departments of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC USA
| | - Chi Dang Hornik
- 2 Departments of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC USA
| | - Staci Bilbo
- 3 Departments of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Zoie E Holzknecht
- 1 Departments of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC USA
| | - Lauren Gentry
- 1 Departments of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC USA
| | - Rasika Rao
- 1 Departments of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC USA
| | - Shu S Lin
- 1 Departments of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC USA
| | - Martha R Herbert
- 4 Departments of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Cynthia D Nevison
- 5 Institute for Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado, Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
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34
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Ahmed RG, El-Gareib AW. Maternal carbamazepine alters fetal neuroendocrine-cytokines axis. Toxicology 2017; 382:59-66. [PMID: 28267586 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2017.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2016] [Revised: 02/14/2017] [Accepted: 03/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
This study detected the impact of maternal carbamazepine (CBZ) on the fetal neuroendocrine-cytokines axis. 25 or 50mg/kg of CBZ was intraperitoneally administrated to pregnant albino rats from the gestation day (GD) 1 to 20. Both administrations of CBZ caused a hypothyroidism in dams and fetuses whereas the decreases in serum thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) and increases in serum thyrotropin (TSH) levels were highly significant (LSD; P <0.01) at GD 20 compared to untreated control dams. Also, both administrations had undesirable impacts on the maternofetal body weight, litter weight, survival of dams and fetuses, and their food consumption in comparison to the corresponding control. These administrations also elicited a reduction in fetal serum growth hormone (GH), interferon-γ (IFNγ), interleukins (IL-2 & 4) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels. Also, the elevation in fetal serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα), transforming growth factor-beta (TGFβ), and interleukins (IL-1β & 17) levels was observed at embryonic day (ED) 20. Moreover, there were a cellular fragmentation, distortion, hyperemia, oedema and vacuolation in the fetal cerebellar cortex due to both maternal administrations. These developmental changes were dose-dependent. These novel results suggest that CBZ may act as a developmental immunoneuroendocrine disruptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- R G Ahmed
- Division of Anatomy and Embryology, Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt.
| | - A W El-Gareib
- Division of Anatomy and Embryology, Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Egypt
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35
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McCarthy MM, Wright CL. Convergence of Sex Differences and the Neuroimmune System in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Biol Psychiatry 2017; 81:402-410. [PMID: 27871670 PMCID: PMC5285451 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2016.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2016] [Revised: 09/14/2016] [Accepted: 10/04/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The male bias in autism spectrum disorder incidence is among the most extreme of all neuropsychiatric disorders, yet the origins of the sex difference remain obscure. Developmentally, males are exposed to high levels of testosterone and its byproduct, estradiol. Together these steroids modify the course of brain development by altering neurogenesis, cell death, migration, differentiation, dendritic and axonal growth, synaptogenesis, and synaptic pruning, all of which can be deleteriously impacted during the course of developmental neuropsychiatric disorders. Elucidating the cellular mechanisms by which steroids modulate brain development provides valuable insights into how these processes may go awry. An emerging theme is the role of inflammatory signaling molecules and the innate immune system in directing brain masculinization, the evidence for which we review here. Evidence is also emerging that the neuroimmune system is overactivated in individuals with autism spectrum disorder. These combined observations lead us to propose that the natural process of brain masculinization puts males at risk by moving them closer to a vulnerability threshold that could more easily be breached by inflammation during critical periods of brain development. Two brain regions are highlighted: the preoptic area and the cerebellum. Both are developmentally regulated by the inflammatory prostaglandin E2, but in different ways. Microglia, innate immune cells of the brain, and astrocytes are also critical contributors to masculinization and illustrate the importance of nonneuronal cells to the health of the developing brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret M McCarthy
- Department of Pharmacology and Program in Neuroscience, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
| | - Christopher L Wright
- Department of Pharmacology and Program in Neuroscience, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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36
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Tang S, Xu S, Lu X, Gullapalli RP, McKenna MC, Waddell J. Neuroprotective Effects of Acetyl-L-Carnitine on Neonatal Hypoxia Ischemia-Induced Brain Injury in Rats. Dev Neurosci 2017; 38:384-396. [PMID: 28226317 DOI: 10.1159/000455041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2016] [Accepted: 12/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Perinatal hypoxia ischemia (HI) is a significant cause of brain injury in surviving infants. Although hypothermia improves outcomes in some infants, additional therapies are needed since about 40% of infants still have a poor outcome. Acetyl-L-carnitine (ALCAR), an acetylated derivative of L-carnitine, protected against early changes in brain metabolites and mitochondrial function after HI on postnatal day (PND) 7 in a rat pup model of near-term HI injury. However, its efficacy in long-term structural and functional outcomes remains unexplored. We determined the efficacy of ALCAR therapy administered to rat pups after HI at PND 7, using both longitudinal in vivo magnetic resonance imaging and behavioral tests, in male and female rats. HI led to sex-specific behavioral impairment, with males exhibiting more global functional deficits than females. Interestingly, HI reduced the volume of the contralateral hemisphere in males only, suggesting that the brain injury is more diffuse in males than in females. Treatment with ALCAR improved both morphological and functional outcomes in both male and female rats. These results suggest that ALCAR may be a potential therapy for clinical use since the treatment attenuated the moderate injury produced under the experimental conditions used and improved the functional outcome in preclinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiyu Tang
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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37
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Cerebellar level of neurotransmitters in rats exposed to paracetamol during development. Pharmacol Rep 2016; 68:1159-1164. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pharep.2016.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2016] [Revised: 06/06/2016] [Accepted: 06/07/2016] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
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Carter CJ, Blizard RA. Autism genes are selectively targeted by environmental pollutants including pesticides, heavy metals, bisphenol A, phthalates and many others in food, cosmetics or household products. Neurochem Int 2016; 101:S0197-0186(16)30197-8. [PMID: 27984170 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2016.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2016] [Revised: 10/18/2016] [Accepted: 10/26/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The increasing incidence of autism suggests a major environmental influence. Epidemiology has implicated many candidates and genetics many susceptibility genes. Gene/environment interactions in autism were analysed using 206 autism susceptibility genes (ASG's) from the Autworks database to interrogate ∼1 million chemical/gene interactions in the comparative toxicogenomics database. Any bias towards ASG's was statistically determined for each chemical. Many suspect compounds identified in epidemiology, including tetrachlorodibenzodioxin, pesticides, particulate matter, benzo(a)pyrene, heavy metals, valproate, acetaminophen, SSRI's, cocaine, bisphenol A, phthalates, polyhalogenated biphenyls, flame retardants, diesel constituents, terbutaline and oxytocin, inter alia showed a significant degree of bias towards ASG's, as did relevant endogenous agents (retinoids, sex steroids, thyroxine, melatonin, folate, dopamine, serotonin). Numerous other suspected endocrine disruptors (over 100) selectively targeted ASG's including paraquat, atrazine and other pesticides not yet studied in autism and many compounds used in food, cosmetics or household products, including tretinoin, soy phytoestrogens, aspartame, titanium dioxide and sodium fluoride. Autism polymorphisms influence the sensitivity to some of these chemicals and these same genes play an important role in barrier function and control of respiratory cilia sweeping particulate matter from the airways. Pesticides, heavy metals and pollutants also disrupt barrier and/or ciliary function, which is regulated by sex steroids and by bitter/sweet taste receptors. Further epidemiological studies and neurodevelopmental and behavioural research is warranted to determine the relevance of large number of suspect candidates whose addition to the environment, household, food and cosmetics might be fuelling the autism epidemic in a gene-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- C J Carter
- PolygenicPathways, Flat 2, 40 Baldslow Road, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 2EY, UK.
| | - R A Blizard
- Molecular Psychiatry Laboratory, Mental Health Sciences Unit, University College, London, UK
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A Critical Period in Purkinje Cell Development Is Mediated by Local Estradiol Synthesis, Disrupted by Inflammation, and Has Enduring Consequences Only for Males. J Neurosci 2016; 36:10039-49. [PMID: 27683901 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1262-16.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2016] [Accepted: 07/24/2016] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Identifying and understanding critical periods in brain development is essential to decoding the long-term impact of widespread, poorly defined, and frequently occurring insults such as inflammation. Using the laboratory rat Rattus norvegicus, we have discovered a narrowly constrained critical period in Purkinje neuron development subject to dysregulation by inflammation. The onset and offset of heightened vulnerability are attributed to a tightly orchestrated gene expression profile present only during the second postnatal week and not the first or third weeks. Genes expressed during this time code for enzymes and receptors which are critical not only for prostaglandin production and activity but also for estradiol production via the aromatase enzyme and estradiol action via the α isoform of the estrogen receptor. The two synthetic pathways are connected by prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) activation of the aromatase enzyme, as we reported previously (Dean et al., 2012b) and confirm here. Dysregulation of the PGE2-estradiol pathway during the second week by treatment with PGE2 or lipopolysaccharides produces enduring consequences as a result of reduced growth of Purkinje dendritic trees and impaired juvenile social play behavior, but only in males. The deleterious consequences of inflammation locally in the cerebellum are prevented by peripheral treatment with the cyclooxygenase inhibitor nimesulide or the aromatase inhibitor formestane. These findings highlight a novel regulatory pathway that creates a critical period in brain development vulnerable to dysregulation by inflammation. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The cerebellum is increasingly appreciated for its role in social, emotional, and cognitive behaviors. It is consistently and severely affected in neuropsychiatric disorders originating during development, such as autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia. We have identified a critical period in rat development during the second week of life that is dysregulated by inflammatory insults. An intrinsic program of gene expression determines the critical period. The enduring consequences of inflammation during the second postnatal week are stunted dendrites of the cerebellum's principal neurons, Purkinje cells, and impairments in later social behavior. These changes are not evident if inflammation occurs during the first or third week, highlighting the importance of fine-grained analyses of developmental processes and the factors that influence them.
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Liu S, Qiu S, Lu Y, Kanu JS, Li R, Bai Y, Zhu X, Lei J, Xu N, Yu Y, Liu Y, Jiang H. The rs251684 Variant of PLA2G4C Is Associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Northeast Han Chinese Population. Genet Test Mol Biomarkers 2016; 20:747-752. [PMID: 27611910 DOI: 10.1089/gtmb.2016.0195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM To investigate the association between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and the phospholipase A2 group IVC (PLA2G4C) and phospholipase A2 group XIIA (PLA2G12A) polymorphisms in the Northeast Han Chinese population. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 68 family trios (children diagnosed with ASD and their unaffected parents) were enrolled. Five single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs9226, rs1045376, rs251684, rs2307279, and rs156631) in PLA2G4C and four SNPs (rs6533451, rs2285714, rs2285713, and rs11728699) in PLA2G12A were selected and genotyped. The association between the SNPs and ASD was analyzed using the transmission disequilibrium test. RESULTS Our results showed a significant association between ASD and the rs251684 variant of PLA2G4C (transmitted/nontransmitted = 36/21, χ2 = 3.947, p = 0.047), but no association between ASD and the other eight SNPs investigated (all p > 0.05). Moreover, we found no preference in the transmission of haplotypes constructed for either PLA2G4C or PLA2G12A. CONCLUSION The rs251684 polymorphism of PLA2G4C may be associated with ASD risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shicheng Liu
- 1 Department of Pediatrics, The First Hospital of Jilin University , Changchun, China
| | - Shuang Qiu
- 2 Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University , Changchun, China
| | - Yuping Lu
- 2 Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University , Changchun, China
| | - Joseph Sam Kanu
- 2 Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University , Changchun, China
| | - Ri Li
- 2 Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University , Changchun, China
| | - Ye Bai
- 2 Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University , Changchun, China
| | - Xiaojuan Zhu
- 3 The Key Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics of Ministry of Education, Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Northeast Normal University , Changchun, China
| | - Jie Lei
- 4 The Second Department of Pediatrics, The First Hospital of Jilin University , Changchun, China
| | - Naijun Xu
- 4 The Second Department of Pediatrics, The First Hospital of Jilin University , Changchun, China
| | - Yaqin Yu
- 2 Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University , Changchun, China
| | - Yawen Liu
- 2 Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Jilin University , Changchun, China
| | - Huiyi Jiang
- 4 The Second Department of Pediatrics, The First Hospital of Jilin University , Changchun, China
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Wong CT, Ussyshkin N, Ahmad E, Rai-Bhogal R, Li H, Crawford DA. Prostaglandin E2promotes neural proliferation and differentiation and regulates Wnt target gene expression. J Neurosci Res 2016; 94:759-75. [DOI: 10.1002/jnr.23759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2015] [Revised: 04/06/2016] [Accepted: 04/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Christine T. Wong
- School of Kinesiology and Health Science; York University; Toronto Ontario Canada
- Neuroscience Graduate Diploma Program; York University; Toronto Ontario Canada
| | - Netta Ussyshkin
- Department of Biology; York University; Toronto Ontario Canada
| | - Eizaaz Ahmad
- Neuroscience Graduate Diploma Program; York University; Toronto Ontario Canada
- Department of Biology; York University; Toronto Ontario Canada
| | - Ravneet Rai-Bhogal
- Neuroscience Graduate Diploma Program; York University; Toronto Ontario Canada
- Department of Biology; York University; Toronto Ontario Canada
| | - Hongyan Li
- School of Kinesiology and Health Science; York University; Toronto Ontario Canada
| | - Dorota A. Crawford
- School of Kinesiology and Health Science; York University; Toronto Ontario Canada
- Neuroscience Graduate Diploma Program; York University; Toronto Ontario Canada
- Department of Biology; York University; Toronto Ontario Canada
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Davidson JM, Wong CT, Li H, Crawford DA. Prostaglandin E2 facilitates subcellular translocation of the EP4 receptor in neuroectodermal NE-4C stem cells. Biochem Biophys Rep 2016; 7:173-179. [PMID: 28955904 PMCID: PMC5613302 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2016.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2015] [Revised: 04/04/2016] [Accepted: 06/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is a lipid mediator released from the phospholipid membranes that mediates important physiological functions in the nervous system via activation of four EP receptors (EP1-4). There is growing evidence for the important role of the PGE2/EP4 signaling in the nervous system. Previous studies in our lab show that the expression of the EP4 receptor is significantly higher during the neurogenesis period in the mouse. We also showed that in mouse neuroblastoma cells, the PGE2/EP4 receptor signaling pathway plays a role in regulation of intracellular calcium via a phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-dependent mechanism. Recent research indicates that the functional importance of the EP4 receptor depends on its subcellular localization. PGE2-induced EP4 externalization to the plasma membrane of primary sensory neurons has been shown to play a role in the pain pathway. In the present study, we detected a novel PGE2–dependent subcellular trafficking of the EP4 receptor in neuroectodermal (NE-4C) stem cells and differentiated NE-4C neuronal cells. We show that PGE2 induces EP4 externalization from the Golgi apparatus to the plasma membrane in NE-4C stem cells. We also show that the EP4 receptors translocate to growth cones of differentiating NE-4C neuronal cells and that a higher level of PGE2 enhances its growth cone localization. These results demonstrate that the EP4 receptor relocation to the plasma membrane and growth cones in NE-4C cells is PGE2 dependent. Thus, the functional role of the PGE2/EP4 pathway in the developing nervous system may depend on the subcellular localization of the EP4 receptor. Function of the PGE2/EP4 pathway depends on the localization of the EP4 receptor. PGE2 induces EP4 trafficking from Golgi to plasma membrane in NE-4C stem cells. EP4 receptors translocate to growth cones in differentiating NE-4C neuronal cells. Higher PGE2 level enhanced EP4 trafficking to growth cones of NE-4C neuronal cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennilee M Davidson
- Neuroscience Graduate Diploma Program, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada M3J 1P3.,Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada M3J 1P3
| | - Christine T Wong
- School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada M3J 1P3.,Neuroscience Graduate Diploma Program, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada M3J 1P3
| | - Hongyan Li
- School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada M3J 1P3
| | - Dorota A Crawford
- School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada M3J 1P3.,Neuroscience Graduate Diploma Program, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada M3J 1P3.,Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada M3J 1P3
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Pedersen AL, Nelson LH, Saldanha CJ. Centrally Synthesized Estradiol Is a Potent Anti-Inflammatory in the Injured Zebra Finch Brain. Endocrinology 2016; 157:2041-51. [PMID: 26963472 PMCID: PMC4870876 DOI: 10.1210/en.2015-1991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
In homeotherms, injury to the brain, such as a penetrating wound, increases microglial cytokine expression and astroglial aromatase (estrogen synthase). In songbirds, injury-induced synthesis of estrogens is neuroprotective as aromatase inhibition and replacement with estradiol (E2) exacerbates and mitigates the extent of damage, respectively. The influence of induced aromatization on inflammation, however, remains unstudied. We hypothesized that injury-induced aromatization, via E2 synthesis, may affect neuroinflammation after a penetrating brain injury. Using adult zebra finches, we first documented an increase in the transcription of cytokines but not aromatase, 2 hours after the injury. Twenty-four hours after the injury, however, aromatase was dramatically elevated and cytokine expression had returned to baseline, suggesting that aromatization may be involved in the decrease of cytokines and neuroinflammation. In two subsequent experiments, we tested the influence of the inhibition of induced aromatization and aromatase inhibition with concomitant central E2 replacement on the transcription of the cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, the enzyme cyclooxygenase-2 (cox-2), and its product prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Administration of fadrozole, an aromatase inhibitor, caused a sustained elevation of IL-1β in females and TNF-α, cox-2, and PGE2 in both sexes. This prolonged neuroinflammation appears to be due to a failure to synthesize E2 locally because intracranial E2 replacement lowered IL-1β in females, TNF-α in males, and cox-2 and PGE2 in both sexes. IL-6 was not affected by injury, aromatase inhibition, or E2 replacement in either sex. These data suggest that E2 synthesis after a penetrating brain injury is a potent and inducible anti-inflammatory signal, with specific modulation of discrete cytokine signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa L Pedersen
- Department of Biology, Behavior, Cognition, and Neuroscience Program and The Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, American University, Washington, DC 20016
| | - Lars H Nelson
- Department of Biology, Behavior, Cognition, and Neuroscience Program and The Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, American University, Washington, DC 20016
| | - Colin J Saldanha
- Department of Biology, Behavior, Cognition, and Neuroscience Program and The Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, American University, Washington, DC 20016
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Leishman E, Cornett B, Spork K, Straiker A, Mackie K, Bradshaw HB. Broad impact of deleting endogenous cannabinoid hydrolyzing enzymes and the CB1 cannabinoid receptor on the endogenous cannabinoid-related lipidome in eight regions of the mouse brain. Pharmacol Res 2016; 110:159-172. [PMID: 27109320 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2016.04.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2016] [Revised: 04/19/2016] [Accepted: 04/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The enzymes fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) hydrolyze endogenous cannabinoids (eCBs), N-arachidonoyl ethanolamine (AEA) and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG), respectively. These enzymes also metabolize eCB analogs such as lipoamines and 2-acyl glycerols, most of which are not ligands at CB1. To test the hypothesis that deleting eCB hydrolyzing enzymes and CB1 shifts lipid metabolism more broadly and impacts more families of eCB structural analogs, targeted lipidomics analyses were performed on FAAH KO, MAGL KO, and CB1 KO mice and compared to WT controls in 8 brain regions. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Methanolic extracts of discrete brain regions (brainstem, cerebellum, cortex, hippocampus, hypothalamus, midbrain, striatum and thalamus) were partially purified on C-18 solid-phase extraction columns. Over 70 lipids per sample were then analyzed with HPLC/MS/MS. KEY RESULTS AEA and 2-AG were unaffected throughout the brain in CB1 KO mice; however, there was an increase in the arachidonic acid (AA) metabolite, PGE2 in the majority of brain areas. By contrast, PGE2 and AA levels were significantly reduced throughout the brain in the MAGL KO corresponding to significant increases in 2-AG. No changes in AA or PGE2 were seen throughout in the FAAH KO brain, despite significant increases in AEA, suggesting AA liberated by FAAH does not contribute to steady state levels of AA or PGE2. Changes in the lipidome were not confined to the AA derivatives and showed regional variation in each of the eCB KO models. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS AEA and 2-AG hydrolyzing enzymes and the CB1 receptor link the eCB system to broader lipid signaling networks in contrasting ways, potentially altering neurotransmission and behavior independently of cannabinoid receptor signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Leishman
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, 1101 E. 10th Street, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Ben Cornett
- Gill Center for Biomolecular Neuroscience, Indiana University, 702 N. Walnut Grove Avenue, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Karl Spork
- Gill Center for Biomolecular Neuroscience, Indiana University, 702 N. Walnut Grove Avenue, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Alex Straiker
- Gill Center for Biomolecular Neuroscience, Indiana University, 702 N. Walnut Grove Avenue, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Ken Mackie
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, 1101 E. 10th Street, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA; Gill Center for Biomolecular Neuroscience, Indiana University, 702 N. Walnut Grove Avenue, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Heather B Bradshaw
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, 1101 E. 10th Street, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA.
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Harden LM, Kent S, Pittman QJ, Roth J. Fever and sickness behavior: Friend or foe? Brain Behav Immun 2015; 50:322-333. [PMID: 26187566 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2015.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2015] [Revised: 07/10/2015] [Accepted: 07/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Fever has been recognized as an important symptom of disease since ancient times. For many years, fever was treated as a putative life-threatening phenomenon. More recently, it has been recognized as an important part of the body's defense mechanisms; indeed at times it has even been used as a therapeutic agent. The knowledge of the functional role of the central nervous system in the genesis of fever has greatly improved over the last decade. It is clear that the febrile process, which develops in the sick individual, is just one of many brain-controlled sickness symptoms. Not only will the sick individual appear "feverish" but they may also display a range of behavioral changes, such as anorexia, fatigue, loss of interest in usual daily activities, social withdrawal, listlessness or malaise, hyperalgesia, sleep disturbances and cognitive dysfunction, collectively termed "sickness behavior". In this review we consider the issue of whether fever and sickness behaviors are friend or foe during: a critical illness, the common cold or influenza, in pregnancy and in the newborn. Deciding whether these sickness responses are beneficial or harmful will very much shape our approach to the use of antipyretics during illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- L M Harden
- Brain Function Research Group, School of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown, Johannesburg, South Africa.
| | - S Kent
- School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
| | - Q J Pittman
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
| | - J Roth
- Institute of Veterinary-Physiology and -Biochemistry, Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen, Frankfurter Strasse 100, D-35392 Giessen, Germany.
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Sex differences in cell genesis, hippocampal volume and behavioral outcomes in a rat model of neonatal HI. Exp Neurol 2015; 275 Pt 2:285-95. [PMID: 26376217 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2015.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2015] [Revised: 08/27/2015] [Accepted: 09/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Hypoxia-ischemia (HI) of the brain in near-term and term infants is a leading cause of infant mortality and lifelong disability but current therapeutic approaches remain limited. Males consistently display greater vulnerability to the deleterious consequences of HI in both humans and animal models. Neurogenesis increases after neonatal HI and offers a potential therapeutic target for recovery. The steroid hormone estradiol has been extensively explored as a neuroprotectant in adult models of stroke but with mixed results. Less consideration has been afforded to this naturally occurring agent in the developing brain, which has unique challenges from the adult. Using a model of term HI in the rat we have explored the impact of this insult on cell genesis in the hippocampus of males and females and the ability of estradiol treatment immediately after insult to restore function. Both short-term (3 days) and long-term (7 days) post-injury were assessed and revealed that only females had markedly increased cell genesis on the short-term but both sexes were increased long-term. A battery of behavioral tests revealed motor impairment in males and compromised episodic memory while both sexes were modestly impaired in spatial memory. Juvenile social play was also depressed in both sexes after HI. Estradiol therapy improved behavioral performance in both sexes but did not reverse a deficit in hippocampal volume ipsilateral to the insult. Thus the effects of estradiol do not appear to be via cell death or proliferation but rather involve other components of neural functioning.
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del Pino J, Moyano-Cires PV, Anadon MJ, Díaz MJ, Lobo M, Capo MA, Frejo MT. Molecular Mechanisms of Amitraz Mammalian Toxicity: A Comprehensive Review of Existing Data. Chem Res Toxicol 2015; 28:1073-94. [DOI: 10.1021/tx500534x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Javier del Pino
- Departament of Toxicology
and Pharmacology, Veterinary School, and ‡Department of
Toxicology and Legal Medicine, Medicine School, Complutense University of Madrid, Avda. Puerta de Hierro s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Paula Viviana Moyano-Cires
- Departament of Toxicology
and Pharmacology, Veterinary School, and ‡Department of
Toxicology and Legal Medicine, Medicine School, Complutense University of Madrid, Avda. Puerta de Hierro s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria Jose Anadon
- Departament of Toxicology
and Pharmacology, Veterinary School, and ‡Department of
Toxicology and Legal Medicine, Medicine School, Complutense University of Madrid, Avda. Puerta de Hierro s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - María Jesús Díaz
- Departament of Toxicology
and Pharmacology, Veterinary School, and ‡Department of
Toxicology and Legal Medicine, Medicine School, Complutense University of Madrid, Avda. Puerta de Hierro s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Margarita Lobo
- Departament of Toxicology
and Pharmacology, Veterinary School, and ‡Department of
Toxicology and Legal Medicine, Medicine School, Complutense University of Madrid, Avda. Puerta de Hierro s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel Andrés Capo
- Departament of Toxicology
and Pharmacology, Veterinary School, and ‡Department of
Toxicology and Legal Medicine, Medicine School, Complutense University of Madrid, Avda. Puerta de Hierro s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - María Teresa Frejo
- Departament of Toxicology
and Pharmacology, Veterinary School, and ‡Department of
Toxicology and Legal Medicine, Medicine School, Complutense University of Madrid, Avda. Puerta de Hierro s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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Wong CT, Ahmad E, Li H, Crawford DA. Prostaglandin E2 alters Wnt-dependent migration and proliferation in neuroectodermal stem cells: implications for autism spectrum disorders. Cell Commun Signal 2014; 12:19. [PMID: 24656144 PMCID: PMC4233645 DOI: 10.1186/1478-811x-12-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2013] [Accepted: 03/13/2014] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is a natural lipid-derived molecule that is involved in important physiological functions. Abnormal PGE2 signalling has been associated with pathologies of the nervous system. Previous studies provide evidence for the interaction of PGE2 and canonical Wnt signalling pathways in non-neuronal cells. Since the Wnt pathway is crucial in the development and organization of the brain, the main goal of this study is to determine whether collaboration between these pathways exists in neuronal cell types. We report that PGE2 interacts with canonical Wnt signalling through PKA and PI-3K in neuroectodermal (NE-4C) stem cells. We used time-lapse microscopy to determine that PGE2 increases the final distance from origin, path length travelled, and the average speed of migration in Wnt-activated cells. Furthermore, PGE2 alters distinct cellular phenotypes that are characteristic of Wnt-induced NE-4C cells, which corresponds to the modified splitting behaviour of the cells. We also found that in Wnt-induced cells the level of β-catenin protein was increased and the expression levels of Wnt-target genes (Ctnnb1, Ptgs2, Ccnd1, Mmp9) was significantly upregulated in response to PGE2 treatment. This confirms that PGE2 activated the canonical Wnt signalling pathway. Furthermore, the upregulated genes have been previously associated with ASD. Our findings show, for the first time, evidence for cross-talk between PGE2 and Wnt signalling in neuronal cells, where PKA and PI-3K might act as mediators between the two pathways. Given the importance of PGE2 and Wnt signalling in prenatal development of the nervous system, our study provides insight into how interaction between these two pathways may influence neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Dorota A Crawford
- School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, Ontario M3J 1P3, Canada.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Richard Hawkes
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Genes and Development Research Group and Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary
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50
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McCarthy MM. Sexual differentiation of the brain in man and animals: of relevance to Klinefelter syndrome? AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS PART C-SEMINARS IN MEDICAL GENETICS 2013; 163C:3-15. [PMID: 23335108 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.c.31351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The developing brain is highly sensitive to the organizing effects of steroids of gonadal origin in a process referred to as sexual differentiation. Early hormone effects prime the brain for adult sensitivity to the appropriate hormonal milieu, maximizing reproductive fitness via coordinated physiology and behavior. Animal models, in particular rodents, have provided insight into general principles and the cellular and molecular mechanisms of brain differentiation. Cellular endpoints influenced by steroids in the developing brain include neurogenesis, migration, apoptosis, dendritic growth, and synaptic patterning. Important roles for prostaglandins, endocanabinoids, and epigenetics are among the many cellular mediators of hormonal organization. Transference of general principles of brain sexual differentiation to humans relies on observations of individuals with genetic anomalies that either increase or decrease hormone exposure and sensitivity. The physiology and behavior of individuals with XXY (Klinefelter syndrome) has not been considered in the context of sexual differentiation of the brain, most likely due to the delay in diagnoses and highly variable presentation. The behavioral phenotype and impairments in the domains of speech and language that are characteristic of individuals with XXY is consistent with the reduced androgen production associated with the syndrome. Hormone replacement appears effective in restoring some deficits and impact may be further improved by increased understanding of the hormonally mediated sexual differentiation of the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret M McCarthy
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
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