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Chung EN, Lee J, Polonio CM, Choi J, Akl CF, Kilian M, Weiß WM, Gunner G, Ye M, Heo TH, Drake SS, Yang L, d'Eca CRGL, Lee JH, Deng L, Farrenkopf D, Schüle AM, Lee HG, Afolabi O, Ghaznavi S, Smirnakis SM, Chiu IM, Kuchroo VK, Quintana FJ, Wheeler MA. Psychedelic control of neuroimmune interactions governing fear. Nature 2025; 641:1276-1286. [PMID: 40269152 PMCID: PMC12119215 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-08880-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2025] [Indexed: 04/25/2025]
Abstract
Neuroimmune interactions-signals transmitted between immune and brain cells-regulate many aspects of tissue physiology1, including responses to psychological stress2-5, which can predispose individuals to develop neuropsychiatric diseases6-9. Still, the interactions between haematopoietic and brain-resident cells that influence complex behaviours are poorly understood. Here, we use a combination of genomic and behavioural screens to show that astrocytes in the amygdala limit stress-induced fear behaviour through epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Mechanistically, EGFR expression in amygdala astrocytes inhibits a stress-induced, pro-inflammatory signal-transduction cascade that facilitates neuron-glial crosstalk and stress-induced fear behaviour through the orphan nuclear receptor NR2F2 in amygdala neurons. In turn, decreased EGFR signalling and fear behaviour are associated with the recruitment of meningeal monocytes during chronic stress. This set of neuroimmune interactions is therapeutically targetable through the administration of psychedelic compounds, which reversed the accumulation of monocytes in the brain meninges along with fear behaviour. Together with validation in clinical samples, these data suggest that psychedelics can be used to target neuroimmune interactions relevant to neuropsychiatric disorders and potentially other inflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth N Chung
- The Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jinsu Lee
- The Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Carolina M Polonio
- The Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joshua Choi
- The Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Camilo Faust Akl
- The Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael Kilian
- The Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Wiebke M Weiß
- The Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Georgia Gunner
- Department of Immunology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mingyu Ye
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Jamaica Plain Veterans Administration Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tae Hyun Heo
- The Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sienna S Drake
- The Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Liu Yang
- The Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Catarina R G L d'Eca
- The Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joon-Hyuk Lee
- The Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Liwen Deng
- Department of Immunology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Daniel Farrenkopf
- The Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Anton M Schüle
- The Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hong-Gyun Lee
- The Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Oreoluwa Afolabi
- The Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sharmin Ghaznavi
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Center for the Neuroscience of Psychedelics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Stelios M Smirnakis
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Jamaica Plain Veterans Administration Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Isaac M Chiu
- Department of Immunology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Vijay K Kuchroo
- The Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Francisco J Quintana
- The Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Michael A Wheeler
- The Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
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Lu OD, White K, Raymond K, Liu C, Klein AS, Green N, Vaillancourt S, Gallagher A, Shindy L, Li A, Wallquist K, Li R, Zou M, Casey AB, Cameron LP, Pomrenze MB, Sohal V, Kheirbek MA, Gomez AM, Lammel S, Heifets BD, Malenka R. A multi-institutional investigation of psilocybin's effects on mouse behavior. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2025:2025.04.08.647810. [PMID: 40291657 PMCID: PMC12027077 DOI: 10.1101/2025.04.08.647810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/30/2025]
Abstract
Studies reporting novel therapeutic effects of psychedelic drugs are rapidly emerging. However, the reproducibility and reliability of these findings could remain uncertain for years. Here, we implemented a multi-institutional collaborative approach to define the robust and replicable effects of the psychedelic drug psilocybin on mouse behavior. Five laboratories performed the same experiments to test the acute and persistent effects of psilocybin (2 mg/kg, IP) on various behaviors that psychedelics have been proposed to affect, including anxiety-related approach-avoidance, exploration, sociability, depression-related behaviors, fear extinction, and social reward learning. Through this coordinated approach, we found that psilocybin had several robust and replicable acute effects on mouse behavior, including increased anxiety- and avoidance-related behaviors and decreased fear expression. Surprisingly, however, we found that psilocybin did not have replicable effects 24 hours post psilocybin administration on reducing anxiety- and depression-like behaviors or facilitating fear extinction learning. Additionally, we were unable to observe psilocybin-induced alterations in social preference or social reward learning. Overall, our comprehensive characterization of psilocybin's acute and persistent behavioral effects using ∼200 total male and female mice per experiment spread across five independent labs demonstrates with unique certainty several acute drug effects and suggests that psilocybin's persistent effects in mice may be more modest and inconsistent than previously suggested. We believe this unusual multi-laboratory, highly coordinated research effort serves as a model for facilitating the generation of replicable results and consequently will reduce efforts based on unreliable and spurious results.
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Nagahama K, Jung VH, Kwon HB. Cutting-edge methodologies for tagging and tracing active neuronal coding in the brain. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2025; 92:102997. [PMID: 40056794 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2025.102997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2024] [Revised: 01/09/2025] [Accepted: 02/14/2025] [Indexed: 03/10/2025]
Abstract
Decoding the neural substrates that underlie learning and behavior is a fundamental goal in neuroscience. Identifying "key players" at the molecular, cellular, and circuit levels has become possible with recent advancements in molecular technologies offering high spatiotemporal resolution. Immediate-early genes are effective markers of neural activity and plasticity, allowing for the identification of active cells involved in memory-based behavior. A calcium-dependent labeling system coupled with light or biochemical proximity labeling allows characterization of active cell ensembles and circuitry across broader brain regions within short time windows, particularly during transient behaviors. The integration of these systems expands the ability to address diverse research questions across behavioral paradigms. This review examines current molecular systems for activity-dependent labeling, highlighting their applications in identifying specific cell ensembles and circuits relevant to various scientific questions and further discuss their significance, along with future directions for the development of innovative methodologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenichiro Nagahama
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Veronica Hyeyoon Jung
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Hyung-Bae Kwon
- Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
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Liao C, O’Farrell E, Qalieh Y, Savalia NK, Girgenti MJ, Kwan KY, Kwan AC. Single-nucleus transcriptomics reveals time-dependent and cell-type-specific effects of psilocybin on gene expression. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2025:2025.01.04.631335. [PMID: 39803502 PMCID: PMC11722411 DOI: 10.1101/2025.01.04.631335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2025]
Abstract
There is growing interest to investigate classic psychedelics as potential therapeutics for mental illnesses. Previous studies have demonstrated that one dose of psilocybin leads to persisting neural and behavioral changes. The durability of psilocybin's effects suggests that there are likely alterations of gene expression at the transcriptional level. In this study, we performed single-nucleus RNA sequencing of the dorsal medial frontal cortex of male and female mice. Samples were collected at 1, 2, 4, 24, or 72 hours after psilocybin or ketamine administration and from control animals. At baseline, major excitatory and GABAergic cell types selectively express particular serotonin receptor transcripts. The psilocybin-evoked differentially expressed genes in excitatory neurons were involved in synaptic plasticity, which were distinct from genes enriched in GABAergic neurons that contribute to mitochondrial function and cellular metabolism. The effect of psilocybin on gene expression was time-dependent, including an early phase at 1-2 hours followed by a late phase at 72 hours of transcriptional response after administration. Ketamine administration produced transcriptional changes that show a high degree of correlation to those induced by psilocybin. Collectively, the results reveal that psilocybin produces time-dependent and cell-type specific changes in gene expression in the medial frontal cortex, which may underpin the drug's long-term effects on neural circuits and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Liao
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Ethan O’Farrell
- Michigan Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Yaman Qalieh
- Michigan Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Neil K. Savalia
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, 06511, USA
| | - Matthew J. Girgenti
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
- Clinical Neuroscience Division, National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT 06516, USA
| | - Kenneth Y. Kwan
- Michigan Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Alex C. Kwan
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
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