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Menzikov SA, Zaichenko DM, Moskovtsev AA, Morozov SG, Kubatiev AA. Phenols and GABA A receptors: from structure and molecular mechanisms action to neuropsychiatric sequelae. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1272534. [PMID: 38303988 PMCID: PMC10831359 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1272534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
γ-Aminobutyric acid type A receptors (GABAARs) are members of the pentameric ligand-gated ion channel (pLGIC) family, which are widespread throughout the invertebrate and vertebrate central nervous system. GABAARs are engaged in short-term changes of the neuronal concentrations of chloride (Cl-) and bicarbonate (HCO3 -) ions by their passive permeability through the ion channel pore. GABAARs are regulated by various structurally diverse phenolic substances ranging from simple phenols to complex polyphenols. The wide chemical and structural variability of phenols suggest similar and different binding sites on GABAARs, allowing them to manifest themselves as activators, inhibitors, or allosteric ligands of GABAAR function. Interest in phenols is associated with their great potential for GABAAR modulation, but also with their subsequent negative or positive role in neurological and psychiatric disorders. This review focuses on the GABAergic deficit hypotheses during neurological and psychiatric disorders induced by various phenols. We summarize the structure-activity relationship of general phenol groups concerning their differential roles in the manifestation of neuropsychiatric symptoms. We describe and analyze the role of GABAAR subunits in manifesting various neuropathologies and the molecular mechanisms underlying their modulation by phenols. Finally, we discuss how phenol drugs can modulate GABAAR activity via desensitization and resensitization. We also demonstrate a novel pharmacological approach to treat neuropsychiatric disorders via regulation of receptor phosphorylation/dephosphorylation.
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2
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Gillespie B, Panthi S, Sundram S, Hill RA. The impact of maternal immune activation on GABAergic interneuron development: A systematic review of rodent studies and their translational implications. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 156:105488. [PMID: 38042358 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105488] [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: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/04/2023]
Abstract
Mothers exposed to infections during pregnancy disproportionally birth children who develop autism and schizophrenia, disorders associated with altered GABAergic function. The maternal immune activation (MIA) model recapitulates this risk factor, with many studies also reporting disruptions to GABAergic interneuron expression, protein, cellular density and function. However, it is unclear if there are species, sex, age, region, or GABAergic subtype specific vulnerabilities to MIA. Furthermore, to fully comprehend the impact of MIA on the GABAergic system a synthesised account of molecular, cellular, electrophysiological and behavioural findings was required. To this end we conducted a systematic review of GABAergic interneuron changes in the MIA model, focusing on the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. We reviewed 102 articles that revealed robust changes in a number of GABAergic markers that present as gestationally-specific, region-specific and sometimes sex-specific. Disruptions to GABAergic markers coincided with distinct behavioural phenotypes, including memory, sensorimotor gating, anxiety, and sociability. Findings suggest the MIA model is a valid tool for testing novel therapeutics designed to recover GABAergic function and associated behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brendan Gillespie
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
| | - Sandesh Panthi
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
| | - Suresh Sundram
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
| | - Rachel A Hill
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia.
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3
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Millevert C, Vidas-Guscic N, Vanherp L, Jonckers E, Verhoye M, Staelens S, Bertoglio D, Weckhuysen S. Resting-State Functional MRI and PET Imaging as Noninvasive Tools to Study (Ab)Normal Neurodevelopment in Humans and Rodents. J Neurosci 2023; 43:8275-8293. [PMID: 38073598 PMCID: PMC10711730 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1043-23.2023] [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: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are a group of complex neurologic and psychiatric disorders. Functional and molecular imaging techniques, such as resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) and positron emission tomography (PET), can be used to measure network activity noninvasively and longitudinally during maturation in both humans and rodent models. Here, we review the current knowledge on rs-fMRI and PET biomarkers in the study of normal and abnormal neurodevelopment, including intellectual disability (ID; with/without epilepsy), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), in humans and rodent models from birth until adulthood, and evaluate the cross-species translational value of the imaging biomarkers. To date, only a few isolated studies have used rs-fMRI or PET to study (abnormal) neurodevelopment in rodents during infancy, the critical period of neurodevelopment. Further work to explore the feasibility of performing functional imaging studies in infant rodent models is essential, as rs-fMRI and PET imaging in transgenic rodent models of NDDs are powerful techniques for studying disease pathogenesis, developing noninvasive preclinical imaging biomarkers of neurodevelopmental dysfunction, and evaluating treatment-response in disease-specific models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charissa Millevert
- Applied & Translational Neurogenomics Group, Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnology (VIB) Center for Molecular Neurology, VIB, Antwerp 2610, Belgium
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Antwerp, Antwerp 2610, Belgium
- µNEURO Research Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp 2610, Belgium
| | - Nicholas Vidas-Guscic
- Bio-Imaging Lab, University of Antwerp, Antwerp 2610, Belgium
- µNEURO Research Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp 2610, Belgium
| | - Liesbeth Vanherp
- µNEURO Research Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp 2610, Belgium
| | - Elisabeth Jonckers
- Bio-Imaging Lab, University of Antwerp, Antwerp 2610, Belgium
- µNEURO Research Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp 2610, Belgium
| | - Marleen Verhoye
- Bio-Imaging Lab, University of Antwerp, Antwerp 2610, Belgium
- µNEURO Research Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp 2610, Belgium
| | - Steven Staelens
- Molecular Imaging Center Antwerp (MICA), University of Antwerp, Antwerp 2610, Belgium
- µNEURO Research Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp 2610, Belgium
| | - Daniele Bertoglio
- Bio-Imaging Lab, University of Antwerp, Antwerp 2610, Belgium
- Molecular Imaging Center Antwerp (MICA), University of Antwerp, Antwerp 2610, Belgium
- µNEURO Research Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp 2610, Belgium
| | - Sarah Weckhuysen
- Applied & Translational Neurogenomics Group, Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnology (VIB) Center for Molecular Neurology, VIB, Antwerp 2610, Belgium
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Antwerp, Antwerp 2610, Belgium
- µNEURO Research Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp 2610, Belgium
- Translational Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, University of Antwerp, Antwerp 2610, Belgium
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Kasaragod VB, Malinauskas T, Wahid AA, Lengyel J, Knoflach F, Hardwick SW, Jones CF, Chen WN, Lucas X, El Omari K, Chirgadze DY, Aricescu AR, Cecere G, Hernandez MC, Miller PS. The molecular basis of drug selectivity for α5 subunit-containing GABA A receptors. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2023; 30:1936-1946. [PMID: 37903907 PMCID: PMC10716045 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-023-01133-1] [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: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023]
Abstract
α5 subunit-containing γ-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptors represent a promising drug target for neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. Altered expression and function contributes to neurodevelopmental disorders such as Dup15q and Angelman syndromes, developmental epilepsy and autism. Effective drug action without side effects is dependent on both α5-subtype selectivity and the strength of the positive or negative allosteric modulation (PAM or NAM). Here we solve structures of drugs bound to the α5 subunit. These define the molecular basis of binding and α5 selectivity of the β-carboline, methyl 6,7-dimethoxy-4-ethyl-β-carboline-3-carboxylate (DMCM), type II benzodiazepine NAMs, and a series of isoxazole NAMs and PAMs. For the isoxazole series, each molecule appears as an 'upper' and 'lower' moiety in the pocket. Structural data and radioligand binding data reveal a positional displacement of the upper moiety containing the isoxazole between the NAMs and PAMs. Using a hybrid molecule we directly measure the functional contribution of the upper moiety to NAM versus PAM activity. Overall, these structures provide a framework by which to understand distinct modulator binding modes and their basis of α5-subtype selectivity, appreciate structure-activity relationships, and empower future structure-based drug design campaigns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vikram Babu Kasaragod
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Tomas Malinauskas
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Ayla A Wahid
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Judith Lengyel
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Neuroscience and Rare Diseases, Roche Innovation Center, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Frederic Knoflach
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Neuroscience and Rare Diseases, Roche Innovation Center, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Steven W Hardwick
- CryoEM Facility, Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Wan-Na Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Xavier Lucas
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Therapeutic Modalities, Roche Innovation Center, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Kamel El Omari
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, UK
| | - Dimitri Y Chirgadze
- CryoEM Facility, Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - A Radu Aricescu
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Giuseppe Cecere
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Therapeutic Modalities, Roche Innovation Center, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Maria-Clemencia Hernandez
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Neuroscience and Rare Diseases, Roche Innovation Center, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Paul S Miller
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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Nisar S, Haris M. Neuroimaging genetics approaches to identify new biomarkers for the early diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:4995-5008. [PMID: 37069342 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02060-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023]
Abstract
Autism-spectrum disorders (ASDs) are developmental disabilities that manifest in early childhood and are characterized by qualitative abnormalities in social behaviors, communication skills, and restrictive or repetitive behaviors. To explore the neurobiological mechanisms in ASD, extensive research has been done to identify potential diagnostic biomarkers through a neuroimaging genetics approach. Neuroimaging genetics helps to identify ASD-risk genes that contribute to structural and functional variations in brain circuitry and validate biological changes by elucidating the mechanisms and pathways that confer genetic risk. Integrating artificial intelligence models with neuroimaging data lays the groundwork for accurate diagnosis and facilitates the identification of early diagnostic biomarkers for ASD. This review discusses the significance of neuroimaging genetics approaches to gaining a better understanding of the perturbed neurochemical system and molecular pathways in ASD and how these approaches can detect structural, functional, and metabolic changes and lead to the discovery of novel biomarkers for the early diagnosis of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabah Nisar
- Laboratory of Molecular and Metabolic Imaging, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Mohammad Haris
- Laboratory of Molecular and Metabolic Imaging, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar.
- Center for Advanced Metabolic Imaging in Precision Medicine, Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Laboratory Animal Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
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Johnson AJ, Shankland E, Richards T, Corrigan N, Shusterman D, Edden R, Estes A, St John T, Dager S, Kleinhans NM. Relationships between GABA, glutamate, and GABA/glutamate and social and olfactory processing in children with autism spectrum disorder. Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging 2023; 336:111745. [PMID: 37956467 PMCID: PMC10841920 DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2023.111745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Theories of altered inhibitory/excitatory signaling in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) suggest that gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) and glutamate (Glu) abnormalities may underlie social and sensory challenges in ASD. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to measure Glu and GABA+ levels in the amygdala-hippocampus region and cerebellum in autistic children (n = 30), a clinical control group with sensory abnormalities (SA) but not ASD (n = 30), and children with typical development (n = 37). All participants were clinically assessed using the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised, the Autism Diagnostic Observation Scale-2, and the Child Sensory Profile-2. The Social Responsiveness Scale-2, Sniffin Sticks Threshold Test, and the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test were administered to assess social impairment and olfactory processing. Overall, autistic children showed increased cerebellar Glu levels compared to TYP children. Evidence for altered excitatory/inhibitory signaling in the cerebellum was more clear-cut when analyses were restricted to male participants. Further, lower cerebellar GABA+/Glu ratios were correlated to more severe social impairment in both autistic and SA males, suggesting that the cerebellum may play a transdiagnostic role in social impairment. Future studies of inhibitory/excitatory neural markers, powered to investigate the role of sex, may aid in parsing out disorder-specific neurochemical profiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allegra J Johnson
- Department of Radiology, University of Washington, USA; Integrated Brain Imaging Center (IBIC), University of Washington, Box 357115, 1959 NE Pacific St, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | | | - Todd Richards
- Department of Radiology, University of Washington, USA; Integrated Brain Imaging Center (IBIC), University of Washington, Box 357115, 1959 NE Pacific St, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Neva Corrigan
- Institute on Human Development and Disability (IHDD), University of Washington, USA
| | - Dennis Shusterman
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - Richard Edden
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, USA; F.M. Kirby Center for Functional MRI, Kennedy Krieger Institute, USA
| | - Annette Estes
- Institute on Human Development and Disability (IHDD), University of Washington, USA; Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, University of Washington, USA; University of Washington Autism Center, USA
| | - Tanya St John
- University of Washington Autism Center, USA; Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - Stephen Dager
- Department of Radiology, University of Washington, USA; Institute on Human Development and Disability (IHDD), University of Washington, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Washington, USA
| | - Natalia M Kleinhans
- Department of Radiology, University of Washington, USA; Integrated Brain Imaging Center (IBIC), University of Washington, Box 357115, 1959 NE Pacific St, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Institute on Human Development and Disability (IHDD), University of Washington, USA.
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7
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Deng Z, Li D, Yan X, Lan J, Han D, Fan K, Chang J, Ma Y. Activation of GABA receptor attenuates intestinal inflammation by modulating enteric glial cells function through inhibiting NF-κB pathway. Life Sci 2023; 329:121984. [PMID: 37527767 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.121984] [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: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Emerging research indicates that γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) provides substantial benefits during enteritis. Nevertheless, GABA signaling roles on enteric glial cells (EGCs) remain unknown. The study's objective was to evaluate the underlying mechanisms of GABA signaling on EGCs in vitro and in vivo. MAIN METHODS We established LPS-induced mouse models and stimulated EGCs with LPS to mimic intestinal inflammation, and combined GABA, GABAA receptor (GABAAR) or GABAB receptor (GABABR) agonists to explore the exact mechanisms of GABA signaling. KEY FINDINGS EGCs were immunopositive for GAD65, GAD67, GAT1, GABAARα1, GABAARα3, and GABABR1, indicating GABAergic and GABAceptive properties. GABA receptor activation significantly inhibited the high secretions of proinflammatory factors in EGCs upon LPS stimulation. Interestingly, we found that EGCs express immune-related molecules such as CD16, CD32, CD80, CD86, MHC II, iNOS, Arg1, and CD206, thus establishing their characterization of E1 and E2 phenotype. EGCs exposed to LPS mainly acted as E1 phenotype, whereas GABABR activation strongly promoted EGCs polarization into E2 phenotype. Transcriptome analysis of EGCs indicated that GABA, GABAAR or GABABR agonists treatment participated in various biological processes, however all of these treatments exhibit inhibitory effects on NF-κB pathway. Notably, in LPS-induced mice, activation of GABABR mitigated intestinal damage through modulating inflammatory factors expressions, strengthening sIgA and IgG levels, inhibiting NF-κB pathway and facilitating EGCs to transform into E2 phenotype. SIGNIFICANCE These data demonstrate that the anti-inflammatory actions of GABA signaling system offer in enteritis via regulating EGCs-polarized function through impeding NF-κB pathway, thus providing potential targets for intestinal inflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziteng Deng
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Dan Li
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Xue Yan
- New Hope Liuhe Co., Ltd., Key Laboratory of Feed and Livestock and Poultry Products Quality & Safety Control, Ministry of Agriculture, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Jing Lan
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Deping Han
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China; Peking University Institute of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Weifang, Shandong, China
| | - Kai Fan
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Jianyu Chang
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Yunfei Ma
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
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Nardi L, Chhabra S, Leukel P, Krueger-Burg D, Sommer CJ, Schmeisser MJ. Neuroanatomical changes of ionotropic glutamatergic and GABAergic receptor densities in male mice modeling idiopathic and syndromic autism spectrum disorder. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1199097. [PMID: 37547211 PMCID: PMC10401048 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1199097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) comprises a wide range of neurodevelopment conditions primarily characterized by impaired social interaction and repetitive behavior, accompanied by a variable degree of neuropsychiatric characteristics. Synaptic dysfunction is undertaken as one of the key underlying mechanisms in understanding the pathophysiology of ASD. The excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) hypothesis is one of the most widely held theories for its pathogenesis. Shifts in E/I balance have been proven in several ASD models. In this study, we investigated three mouse lines recapitulating both idiopathic (the BTBR strain) and genetic (Fmr1 and Shank3 mutants) forms of ASD at late infancy and early adulthood. Using receptor autoradiography for ionotropic excitatory (AMPA and NMDA) and inhibitory (GABAA) receptors, we mapped the receptor binding densities in brain regions known to be associated with ASD such as prefrontal cortex, dorsal and ventral striatum, dorsal hippocampus, and cerebellum. The individual mouse lines investigated show specific alterations in excitatory ionotropic receptor density, which might be accounted as specific hallmark of each individual line. Across all the models investigated, we found an increased binding density to GABAA receptors at adulthood in the dorsal hippocampus. Interestingly, reduction in the GABAA receptor binding density was observed in the cerebellum. Altogether, our findings suggest that E/I disbalance individually affects several brain regions in ASD mouse models and that alterations in GABAergic transmission might be accounted as unifying factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Nardi
- Institute of Anatomy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Stuti Chhabra
- Institute of Anatomy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany
- Focus Program Translational Neurosciences, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Petra Leukel
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Dilja Krueger-Burg
- Institute of Anatomy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany
- Focus Program Translational Neurosciences, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Clemens J. Sommer
- Focus Program Translational Neurosciences, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Michael J. Schmeisser
- Institute of Anatomy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany
- Focus Program Translational Neurosciences, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
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9
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Zahid U, Onwordi EC, Hedges EP, Wall MB, Modinos G, Murray RM, Egerton A. Neurofunctional correlates of glutamate and GABA imbalance in psychosis: A systematic review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 144:105010. [PMID: 36549375 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.105010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Glutamatergic and GABAergic dysfunction are implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Previous work has shown relationships between glutamate, GABA, and brain activity in healthy volunteers. We conducted a systematic review to evaluate whether these relationships are disrupted in psychosis. Primary outcomes were the relationship between metabolite levels and fMRI BOLD response in psychosis relative to healthy volunteers. 17 case-control studies met inclusion criteria (594 patients and 538 healthy volunteers). Replicated findings included that in psychosis, positive associations between ACC glutamate levels and brain activity are reduced during resting state conditions and increased during cognitive control tasks, and negative relationships between GABA and local activation in the ACC are reduced. There was evidence that antipsychotic medication may alter the relationship between glutamate levels and brain activity. Emerging literature is providing insights into disrupted relationships between neurometabolites and brain activity in psychosis. Future studies determining a link to clinical variables may develop this approach for biomarker applications, including development or targeting novel therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uzma Zahid
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, UK; Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, UK.
| | - Ellis C Onwordi
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, UK; MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, UK; Institute of Clinical Sciences (ICS), Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK; South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Camberwell, London, UK
| | - Emily P Hedges
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Matthew B Wall
- Invicro London, Hammersmith Hospital, UK; Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, UK; Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, University College London, UK
| | - Gemma Modinos
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Robin M Murray
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
| | - Alice Egerton
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, UK
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10
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From bench to bedside: The mGluR5 system in people with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder and animal model systems. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:395. [PMID: 36127322 PMCID: PMC9489881 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-02143-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) is a key regulator of excitatory (E) glutamate and inhibitory (I) γ-amino butyric acid (GABA) signalling in the brain. Despite the close functional ties between mGluR5 and E/I signalling, no-one has directly examined the relationship between mGluR5 and glutamate or GABA in vivo in the human brain of autistic individuals. We measured [18F] FPEB (18F-3-fluoro-5-[(pyridin-3-yl)ethynyl]benzonitrile) binding in 15 adults (6 with Autism Spectrum Disorder) using two regions of interest, the left dorsomedial prefrontal cortex and a region primarily composed of left striatum and thalamus. These two regions were mapped out using MEGA-PRESS voxels and then superimposed on reconstructed PET images. This allowed for direct comparison between mGluR5, GABA + and Glx. To better understand the molecular underpinnings of our results we used an autoradiography study of mGluR5 in three mouse models associated with ASD: Cntnap2 knockout, Shank3 knockout, and 16p11.2 deletion. Autistic individuals had significantly higher [18F] FPEB binding (t (13) = -2.86, p = 0.047) in the left striatum/thalamus region of interest as compared to controls. Within this region, there was a strong negative correlation between GABA + and mGluR5 density across the entire cohort (Pearson's correlation: r (14) = -0.763, p = 0.002). Cntnap2 KO mice had significantly higher mGlu5 receptor binding in the striatum (caudate-putamen) as compared to wild-type (WT) mice (n = 15, p = 0.03). There were no differences in mGluR5 binding for mice with the Shank3 knockout or 16p11.2 deletion. Given that Cntnap2 is associated with a specific striatal deficit of parvalbumin positive GABA interneurons and 'autistic' features, our findings suggest that an increase in mGluR5 in ASD may relate to GABAergic interneuron abnormalities.
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11
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Lee IO, Skuse DH, Constable PA, Marmolejo-Ramos F, Olsen LR, Thompson DA. The electroretinogram b-wave amplitude: a differential physiological measure for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Neurodev Disord 2022; 14:30. [PMID: 35524181 PMCID: PMC9077889 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-022-09440-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the most prevalent childhood neurodevelopmental disorder. It shares some genetic risk with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and the conditions often occur together. Both are potentially associated with abnormal glutamate and GABA neurotransmission, which can be modelled by measuring the synaptic activity in the retina with an electroretinogram (ERG). Reduction of retinal responses in ASD has been reported, but little is known about retinal activity in ADHD. In this study, we compared the light-adapted ERGs of individuals with ADHD, ASD and controls to investigate whether retinal responses differ between these neurodevelopmental conditions. Methods Full field light-adapted ERGs were recorded from 15 ADHD, 57 ASD (without ADHD) and 59 control participants, aged from 5.4 to 27.3 years old. A Troland protocol was used with a random series of nine flash strengths from −0.367 to 1.204 log photopic cd.s.m−2. The time-to-peak and amplitude of the a- and b-waves and the parameters of the Photopic Negative Response (PhNR) were compared amongst the three groups of participants, using generalised estimating equations. Results Statistically significant elevations of the ERG b-wave amplitudes, PhNR responses and faster timings of the b-wave time-to-peak were found in those with ADHD compared with both the control and ASD groups. The greatest elevation in the b-wave amplitudes associated with ADHD were observed at 1.204 log phot cd.s.m−2 flash strength (p < .0001), at which the b-wave amplitude in ASD was significantly lower than that in the controls. Using this measure, ADHD could be distinguished from ASD with an area under the curve of 0.88. Conclusions The ERG b-wave amplitude appears to be a distinctive differential feature for both ADHD and ASD, which produced a reversed pattern of b-wave responses. These findings imply imbalances between glutamate and GABA neurotransmission which primarily regulate the b-wave formation. Abnormalities in the b-wave amplitude could provisionally serve as a biomarker for both neurodevelopmental conditions. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s11689-022-09440-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene O Lee
- Behavioural and Brain Sciences Unit, Population Policy and Practice Programme, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK.
| | - David H Skuse
- Behavioural and Brain Sciences Unit, Population Policy and Practice Programme, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Paul A Constable
- Caring Futures Institute, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Fernando Marmolejo-Ramos
- Centre for Change and Complexity in Learning, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Ludvig R Olsen
- Department of Molecular Medicine (MOMA), Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Dorothy A Thompson
- The Tony Kriss Visual Electrophysiology Unit, Clinical and Academic Department of Ophthalmology, Sight and Sound Centre, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust, London, UK.,UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
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12
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Tsurugizawa T. Translational Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Autism Spectrum Disorder From the Mouse Model to Human. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:872036. [PMID: 35585926 PMCID: PMC9108701 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.872036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous syndrome characterized by behavioral features such as impaired social communication, repetitive behavior patterns, and a lack of interest in novel objects. A multimodal neuroimaging using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with ASD shows highly heterogeneous abnormalities in function and structure in the brain associated with specific behavioral features. To elucidate the mechanism of ASD, several ASD mouse models have been generated, by focusing on some of the ASD risk genes. A specific behavioral feature of an ASD mouse model is caused by an altered gene expression or a modification of a gene product. Using these mouse models, a high field preclinical MRI enables us to non-invasively investigate the neuronal mechanism of the altered brain function associated with the behavior and ASD risk genes. Thus, MRI is a promising translational approach to bridge the gap between mice and humans. This review presents the evidence for multimodal MRI, including functional MRI (fMRI), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and volumetric analysis, in ASD mouse models and in patients with ASD and discusses the future directions for the translational study of ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomokazu Tsurugizawa
- Human Informatics and Interaction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Japan
- Faculty of Engineering, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
- *Correspondence: Tomokazu Tsurugizawa,
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13
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Tan Z, Wei H, Song X, Mai W, Yan J, Ye W, Ling X, Hou L, Zhang S, Yan S, Xu H, Wang L. Positron Emission Tomography in the Neuroimaging of Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Review. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:806876. [PMID: 35495051 PMCID: PMC9043810 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.806876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a basket term for neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by marked impairments in social interactions, repetitive and stereotypical behaviors, and restricted interests and activities. Subtypes include (A) disorders with known genetic abnormalities including fragile X syndrome, Rett syndrome, and tuberous sclerosis and (B) idiopathic ASD, conditions with unknown etiologies. Positron emission tomography (PET) is a molecular imaging technology that can be utilized in vivo for dynamic and quantitative research, and is a valuable tool for exploring pathophysiological mechanisms, evaluating therapeutic efficacy, and accelerating drug development in ASD. Recently, several imaging studies on ASD have been published and physiological changes during ASD progression was disclosed by PET. This paper reviews the specific radioligands for PET imaging of critical biomarkers in ASD, and summarizes and discusses the similar and different discoveries in outcomes of previous studies. It is of great importance to identify general physiological changes in cerebral glucose metabolism, cerebral blood flow perfusion, abnormalities in neurotransmitter systems, and inflammation in the central nervous system in ASD, which may provide excellent points for further ASD research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqiang Tan
- Center of Cyclotron and PET Radiopharmaceuticals, Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET/CT-MRI Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huiyi Wei
- Center of Cyclotron and PET Radiopharmaceuticals, Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET/CT-MRI Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiubao Song
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wangxiang Mai
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiajian Yan
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Weijian Ye
- Center of Cyclotron and PET Radiopharmaceuticals, Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET/CT-MRI Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xueying Ling
- Center of Cyclotron and PET Radiopharmaceuticals, Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET/CT-MRI Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lu Hou
- Center of Cyclotron and PET Radiopharmaceuticals, Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET/CT-MRI Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shaojuan Zhang
- Center of Cyclotron and PET Radiopharmaceuticals, Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET/CT-MRI Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Sen Yan
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Ministry of Education CNS Regeneration Collaborative Joint Laboratory, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hao Xu
- Center of Cyclotron and PET Radiopharmaceuticals, Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET/CT-MRI Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Hao Xu,
| | - Lu Wang
- Center of Cyclotron and PET Radiopharmaceuticals, Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET/CT-MRI Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
- Lu Wang,
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14
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James D, Lam VT, Jo B, Fung LK. Region-specific associations between gamma-aminobutyric acid A receptor binding and cortical thickness in high-functioning autistic adults. Autism Res 2022; 15:1068-1082. [PMID: 35261207 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
The neurobiology of autism has been shown to involve alterations in cortical morphology and gamma-aminobutyric acid A (GABAA ) receptor density. We hypothesized that GABAA receptor binding potential (GABAA R BPND ) would correlate with cortical thickness, but their correlations would differ between autistic adults and typically developing (TD) controls. We studied 50 adults (23 autism, 27 TD, mean age of 27 years) using magnetic resonance imaging to measure cortical thickness, and [18 F]flumazenil positron emission tomography imaging to measure GABAA R BPND . We determined the correlations between cortical thickness and GABAA R BPND by cortical lobe, region-of-interest, and diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We also explored potential sex differences in the relationship between cortical thickness and autism characteristics, as measured by autism spectrum quotient (AQ) scores. Comparing autism and TD groups, no significant differences were found in cortical thickness or GABAA R BPND . In both autism and TD groups, a negative relationship between cortical thickness and GABAA R BPND was observed in the frontal and occipital cortices, but no relationship was found in the temporal or limbic cortices. A positive correlation was seen in the parietal cortex that was only significant for the autism group. Interestingly, in an exploratory analysis, we found sex differences in the relationships between cortical thickness and GABAA R BPND , and cortical thickness and AQ scores in the left postcentral gyrus. LAY SUMMARY: The thickness of the brain cortex and the density of the receptors associated with inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA have been hypothesized to underlie the neurobiology of autism. In this study, we found that these biomarkers correlate positively in the parietal cortex, but negatively in the frontal and occipital cortical regions of the brain. Furthermore, we collected preliminary evidence that the correlations between cortical thickness and GABA receptor density are sexdependent in a brain region where sensory inputs are registered.
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Affiliation(s)
- David James
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Vicky T Lam
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Booil Jo
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Lawrence K Fung
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
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15
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Echeveste R, Ferrante E, Milone DH, Samengo I. Bridging physiological and perceptual views of autism by means of sampling-based Bayesian inference. Netw Neurosci 2022; 6:196-212. [PMID: 36605888 PMCID: PMC9810278 DOI: 10.1162/netn_a_00219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Theories for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been formulated at different levels, ranging from physiological observations to perceptual and behavioral descriptions. Understanding the physiological underpinnings of perceptual traits in ASD remains a significant challenge in the field. Here we show how a recurrent neural circuit model that was optimized to perform sampling-based inference and displays characteristic features of cortical dynamics can help bridge this gap. The model was able to establish a mechanistic link between two descriptive levels for ASD: a physiological level, in terms of inhibitory dysfunction, neural variability, and oscillations, and a perceptual level, in terms of hypopriors in Bayesian computations. We took two parallel paths-inducing hypopriors in the probabilistic model, and an inhibitory dysfunction in the network model-which lead to consistent results in terms of the represented posteriors, providing support for the view that both descriptions might constitute two sides of the same coin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Echeveste
- Research Institute for Signals, Systems, and Computational Intelligence sinc(i) (FICH-UNL/CONICET), Santa Fe, Argentina,* Corresponding Author:
| | - Enzo Ferrante
- Research Institute for Signals, Systems, and Computational Intelligence sinc(i) (FICH-UNL/CONICET), Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Diego H. Milone
- Research Institute for Signals, Systems, and Computational Intelligence sinc(i) (FICH-UNL/CONICET), Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Inés Samengo
- Medical Physics Department and Balseiro Institute (CNEA-UNCUYO/CONICET), Bariloche, Argentina
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16
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Huang Q, Pereira AC, Velthuis H, Wong NML, Ellis CL, Ponteduro FM, Dimitrov M, Kowalewski L, Lythgoe DJ, Rotaru D, Edden RAE, Leonard A, Ivin G, Ahmad J, Pretzsch CM, Daly E, Murphy DGM, McAlonan GM. GABA B receptor modulation of visual sensory processing in adults with and without autism spectrum disorder. Sci Transl Med 2022; 14:eabg7859. [PMID: 34985973 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abg7859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
[Figure: see text].
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiyun Huang
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK.,Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Andreia C Pereira
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK.,Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK.,Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research, University of Coimbra, Coimbra 3000-548, Portugal.,Institute of Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health, University of Coimbra, Coimbra 3000-548, Portugal
| | - Hester Velthuis
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK.,Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Nichol M L Wong
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK.,Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Claire L Ellis
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK.,Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Francesca M Ponteduro
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK.,Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Mihail Dimitrov
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK.,Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Lukasz Kowalewski
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK.,Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - David J Lythgoe
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Diana Rotaru
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Richard A E Edden
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.,F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Alison Leonard
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK.,Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Glynis Ivin
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Pharmacy, London SE5 8AZ, UK
| | - Jumana Ahmad
- School of Human Sciences, University of Greenwich, London SE10 9LS, UK
| | - Charlotte M Pretzsch
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK.,Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Eileen Daly
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK.,Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Declan G M Murphy
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK.,Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK.,MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Gráinne M McAlonan
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK.,Sackler Institute for Translational Neurodevelopment, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AF, UK.,MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
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17
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McPartland JC, Lerner MD, Bhat A, Clarkson T, Jack A, Koohsari S, Matuskey D, McQuaid GA, Su WC, Trevisan DA. Looking Back at the Next 40 Years of ASD Neuroscience Research. J Autism Dev Disord 2021; 51:4333-4353. [PMID: 34043128 PMCID: PMC8542594 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-021-05095-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
During the last 40 years, neuroscience has become one of the most central and most productive approaches to investigating autism. In this commentary, we assemble a group of established investigators and trainees to review key advances and anticipated developments in neuroscience research across five modalities most commonly employed in autism research: magnetic resonance imaging, functional near infrared spectroscopy, positron emission tomography, electroencephalography, and transcranial magnetic stimulation. Broadly, neuroscience research has provided important insights into brain systems involved in autism but not yet mechanistic understanding. Methodological advancements are expected to proffer deeper understanding of neural circuitry associated with function and dysfunction during the next 40 years.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Matthew D Lerner
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Anjana Bhat
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Tessa Clarkson
- Department of Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Allison Jack
- Department of Psychology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Sheida Koohsari
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - David Matuskey
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Neurology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Goldie A McQuaid
- Department of Psychology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Wan-Chun Su
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
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18
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Möhrle D, Wang W, Whitehead SN, Schmid S. GABA B Receptor Agonist R-Baclofen Reverses Altered Auditory Reactivity and Filtering in the Cntnap2 Knock-Out Rat. Front Integr Neurosci 2021; 15:710593. [PMID: 34489651 PMCID: PMC8417788 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2021.710593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Altered sensory information processing, and auditory processing, in particular, is a common impairment in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). One prominent hypothesis for the etiology of ASD is an imbalance between neuronal excitation and inhibition. The selective GABAB receptor agonist R-Baclofen has been shown previously to improve social deficits and repetitive behaviors in several mouse models for neurodevelopmental disorders including ASD, and its formulation Arbaclofen has been shown to ameliorate social avoidance symptoms in some individuals with ASD. The present study investigated whether R-Baclofen can remediate ASD-related altered sensory processing reliant on excitation/inhibition imbalance in the auditory brainstem. To assess a possible excitation/inhibition imbalance in the startle-mediating brainstem underlying ASD-like auditory-evoked behaviors, we detected and quantified brain amino acid levels in the nucleus reticularis pontis caudalis (PnC) of rats with a homozygous loss-of-function mutation in the ASD-linked gene Contactin-associated protein-like 2 (Cntnap2) and their wildtype (WT) littermates using Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Mass Spectrometry (MALDI MS). Abnormal behavioral read-outs of brainstem auditory signaling in Cntnap2 KO rats were accompanied by increased levels of GABA, glutamate, and glutamine in the PnC. We then compared the effect of R-Baclofen on behavioral read-outs of brainstem auditory signaling in Cntnap2 KO and WT rats. Auditory reactivity, sensory filtering, and sensorimotor gating were tested in form of acoustic startle response input-output functions, short-term habituation, and prepulse inhibition before and after acute administration of R-Baclofen (0.75, 1.5, and 3 mg/kg). Systemic R-Baclofen treatment improved disruptions in sensory filtering in Cntnap2 KO rats and suppressed exaggerated auditory startle responses, in particular to moderately loud sounds. Lower ASR thresholds in Cntnap2 KO rats were increased in a dose-dependent fashion, with the two higher doses bringing thresholds close to controls, whereas shorter ASR peak latencies at the threshold were further exacerbated. Impaired prepulse inhibition increased across various acoustic prepulse conditions after administration of R-Baclofen in Cntnap2 KO rats, whereas R-Baclofen did not affect prepulse inhibition in WT rats. Our findings suggest that GABAB receptor agonists may be useful for pharmacologically targeting multiple aspects of sensory processing disruptions involving neuronal excitation/inhibition imbalances in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorit Möhrle
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Wenxuan Wang
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Shawn N Whitehead
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Susanne Schmid
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
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19
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Ghit A, Assal D, Al-Shami AS, Hussein DEE. GABA A receptors: structure, function, pharmacology, and related disorders. J Genet Eng Biotechnol 2021; 19:123. [PMID: 34417930 PMCID: PMC8380214 DOI: 10.1186/s43141-021-00224-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Background γ-Aminobutyric acid sub-type A receptors (GABAARs) are the most prominent inhibitory neurotransmitter receptors in the CNS. They are a family of ligand-gated ion channel with significant physiological and therapeutic implications. Main body GABAARs are heteropentamers formed from a selection of 19 subunits: six α (alpha1-6), three β (beta1-3), three γ (gamma1-3), three ρ (rho1-3), and one each of the δ (delta), ε (epsilon), π (pi), and θ (theta) which result in the production of a considerable number of receptor isoforms. Each isoform exhibits distinct pharmacological and physiological properties. However, the majority of GABAARs are composed of two α subunits, two β subunits, and one γ subunit arranged as γ2β2α1β2α1 counterclockwise around the center. The mature receptor has a central chloride ion channel gated by GABA neurotransmitter and modulated by a variety of different drugs. Changes in GABA synthesis or release may have a significant effect on normal brain function. Furthermore, The molecular interactions and pharmacological effects caused by drugs are extremely complex. This is due to the structural heterogeneity of the receptors, and the existence of multiple allosteric binding sites as well as a wide range of ligands that can bind to them. Notably, dysfunction of the GABAergic system contributes to the development of several diseases. Therefore, understanding the relationship between GABAA receptor deficits and CNS disorders thus has a significant impact on the discovery of disease pathogenesis and drug development. Conclusion To date, few reviews have discussed GABAA receptors in detail. Accordingly, this review aims to summarize the current understanding of the structural, physiological, and pharmacological properties of GABAARs, as well as shedding light on the most common associated disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amr Ghit
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy. .,Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Graduate Studies and Research (IGSR), Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
| | - Dina Assal
- Department of Biotechnology, American University in Cairo (AUC), Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ahmed S Al-Shami
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Graduate Studies and Research (IGSR), Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.,Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Diaa Eldin E Hussein
- Animal Health Research Institute (AHRI), Agricultural Research Center (ARC), Port of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt
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20
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A white paper on a neurodevelopmental framework for drug discovery in autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2021; 48:49-88. [PMID: 33781629 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2021.02.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2020] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
In the last decade there has been a revolution in terms of genetic findings in neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), with many discoveries critical for understanding their aetiology and pathophysiology. Clinical trials in single-gene disorders such as fragile X syndrome highlight the challenges of investigating new drug targets in NDDs. Incorporating a developmental perspective into the process of drug development for NDDs could help to overcome some of the current difficulties in identifying and testing new treatments. This paper provides a summary of the proceedings of the 'New Frontiers Meeting' on neurodevelopmental disorders organised by the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology in conjunction with the Innovative Medicines Initiative-sponsored AIMS-2-TRIALS consortium. It brought together experts in developmental genetics, autism, NDDs, and clinical trials from academia and industry, regulators, patient and family associations, and other stakeholders. The meeting sought to provide a platform for focused communication on scientific insights, challenges, and methodologies that might be applicable to the development of CNS treatments from a neurodevelopmental perspective. Multidisciplinary translational consortia to develop basic and clinical research in parallel could be pivotal to advance knowledge in the field. Although implementation of clinical trials for NDDs in paediatric populations is widely acknowledged as essential, safety concerns should guide each aspect of their design. Industry and academia should join forces to improve knowledge of the biology of brain development, identify the optimal timing of interventions, and translate these findings into new drugs, allowing for the needs of users and families, with support from regulatory agencies.
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21
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Nilsonne G, Tamm S, Golkar A, Olsson A, Sörman K, Howner K, Kristiansson M, Ingvar M, Petrovic P. Oxazepam and cognitive reappraisal: A randomised experiment. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0249065. [PMID: 33886568 PMCID: PMC8061924 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0249065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cognitive reappraisal is a strategy for emotional regulation, important in the context of anxiety disorders. It is not known whether anxiolytic effects of benzodiazepines affect cognitive reappraisal. Aims We aimed to investigate the effect of 25 mg oxazepam on cognitive reappraisal. Methods In a preliminary investigation, 33 healthy male volunteers were randomised to oxazepam or placebo, and then underwent an experiment where they were asked to use cognitive reappraisal to upregulate or downregulate their emotional response to images with negative or neutral emotional valence. We recorded unpleasantness ratings, skin conductance, superciliary corrugator muscle activity, and heart rate. Participants completed rating scales measuring empathy (Interpersonal Reactivity Index, IRI), anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, STAI), alexithymia (Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20, TAS-20), and psychopathy (Psychopathy Personality Inventory-Revised, PPI-R). Results Upregulation to negative-valence images in the cognitive reappraisal task caused increased unpleasantness ratings, corrugator activity, and heart rate compared to downregulation. Upregulation to both negative- and neutral-valence images caused increased skin conductance responses. Oxazepam caused lower unpleasantness ratings to negative-valence stimuli, but did not interact with reappraisal instruction on any outcome. Self-rated trait empathy was associated with stronger responses to negative-valence stimuli, whereas self-rated psychopathic traits were associated with weaker responses to negative-valence stimuli. Conclusions While 25 mg oxazepam caused lower unpleasantness ratings in response to negative-valence images, we did not observe an effect of 25 mg oxazepam on cognitive reappraisal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gustav Nilsonne
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
- * E-mail:
| | - Sandra Tamm
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, England
| | - Armita Golkar
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Andreas Olsson
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Karolina Sörman
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Katarina Howner
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Martin Ingvar
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Predrag Petrovic
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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22
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Positron emission tomography (PET) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in autism research: literature review. Ir J Psychol Med 2021; 39:272-286. [PMID: 33818321 DOI: 10.1017/ipm.2021.15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) remains a behaviourally defined condition. Its molecular basis is unknown; however, its prevalence has been increasing significantly. There have been several abnormalities in neurotransmitter systems reported in ASD. In our review, we described studies involving positron emission tomography (PET) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) that can provide useful and corroborative data. METHOD We conducted a literature review by comprehensive database searching on EMBASE, Scopus, PubMed, and PsychINFO looking for articles published since January 2009. Thirty-one studies were carefully selected - 22 PET studies and 9 SPECT studies - and reviewed by 2 independent researchers. References of the articles were also cross-checked. RESULTS Results of the studies, which mainly involve small groups of participants, are frequently inconclusive and often controversial due to the nature of ASD and its wide spectrum. Studies are conducted under different conditions and with poor control for confounding factors which creates difficulties in comparing the data. CONCLUSIONS There is ongoing need to improve methodology of the studies involving molecular imaging in ASD. Lack of consistent findings causes difficulties in evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of the condition.
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23
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McGinnity CJ, Riaño Barros DA, Hinz R, Myers JF, Yaakub SN, Thyssen C, Heckemann RA, de Tisi J, Duncan JS, Sander JW, Lingford-Hughes A, Koepp MJ, Hammers A. Αlpha 5 subunit-containing GABA A receptors in temporal lobe epilepsy with normal MRI. Brain Commun 2021; 3:fcaa190. [PMID: 33501420 PMCID: PMC7811756 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcaa190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2019] [Revised: 09/06/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
GABAA receptors containing the α5 subunit mediate tonic inhibition and are widely expressed in the limbic system. In animals, activation of α5-containing receptors impairs hippocampus-dependent memory. Temporal lobe epilepsy is associated with memory impairments related to neuron loss and other changes. The less selective PET ligand [11C]flumazenil has revealed reductions in GABAA receptors. The hypothesis that α5 subunit receptor alterations are present in temporal lobe epilepsy and could contribute to impaired memory is untested. We compared α5 subunit availability between individuals with temporal lobe epilepsy and normal structural MRI ('MRI-negative') and healthy controls, and interrogated the relationship between α5 subunit availability and episodic memory performance, in a cross-sectional study. Twenty-three healthy male controls (median ± interquartile age 49 ± 13 years) and 11 individuals with MRI-negative temporal lobe epilepsy (seven males; 40 ± 8) had a 90-min PET scan after bolus injection of [11C]Ro15-4513, with arterial blood sampling and metabolite correction. All those with epilepsy and six controls completed the Adult Memory and Information Processing Battery on the scanning day. 'Bandpass' exponential spectral analyses were used to calculate volumes of distribution separately for the fast component [V F; dominated by signal from α1 (α2, α3)-containing receptors] and the slow component (V S; dominated by signal from α5-containing receptors). We made voxel-by-voxel comparisons between: the epilepsy and control groups; each individual case versus the controls. We obtained parametric maps of V F and V S measures from a single bolus injection of [11C]Ro15-4513. The epilepsy group had higher V S in anterior medial and lateral aspects of the temporal lobes, the anterior cingulate gyri, the presumed area tempestas (piriform cortex) and the insulae, in addition to increases of ∼24% and ∼26% in the ipsilateral and contralateral hippocampal areas (P < 0.004). This was associated with reduced V F:V S ratios within the same areas (P < 0.009). Comparisons of V S for each individual with epilepsy versus controls did not consistently lateralize the epileptogenic lobe. Memory scores were significantly lower in the epilepsy group than in controls (mean ± standard deviation -0.4 ± 1.0 versus 0.7 ± 0.3; P = 0.02). In individuals with epilepsy, hippocampal V S did not correlate with memory performance on the Adult Memory and Information Processing Battery. They had reduced V F in the hippocampal area, which was significant ipsilaterally (P = 0.03), as expected from [11C]flumazenil studies. We found increased tonic inhibitory neurotransmission in our cohort of MRI-negative temporal lobe epilepsy who also had co-morbid memory impairments. Our findings are consistent with a subunit shift from α1/2/3 to α5 in MRI-negative temporal lobe epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colm J McGinnity
- Centre for Neuroscience, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
- MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Hammersmith Hospital, London W12 0NN, UK
- King's College London & Guy's and St Thomas' PET Centre, School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, London SE1 7EH, UK
| | - Daniela A Riaño Barros
- Centre for Neuroscience, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
- MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Hammersmith Hospital, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Rainer Hinz
- Wolfson Molecular Imaging Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester M20 3LJ, UK
| | - James F Myers
- Centre for Neuroscience, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Siti N Yaakub
- King's College London & Guy's and St Thomas' PET Centre, School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, London SE1 7EH, UK
| | - Charlotte Thyssen
- Medical Image and Signal Processing (MEDISIP), Department of Electronics and Information Systems, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Rolf A Heckemann
- Department of Medical Radiation Sciences, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, 413 45 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Jane de Tisi
- NIHR University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 3BG, UK, and Chalfont Centre for Epilepsy, Chalfont St Peter SL9 0RJ, UK
| | - John S Duncan
- NIHR University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 3BG, UK, and Chalfont Centre for Epilepsy, Chalfont St Peter SL9 0RJ, UK
| | - Josemir W Sander
- NIHR University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 3BG, UK, and Chalfont Centre for Epilepsy, Chalfont St Peter SL9 0RJ, UK
- Stichting Epilepsie Instellingen Nederland (SEIN), Heemstede 2103SW, The Netherlands
| | - Anne Lingford-Hughes
- Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, Centre for Psychiatry, Department of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Matthias J Koepp
- NIHR University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 3BG, UK, and Chalfont Centre for Epilepsy, Chalfont St Peter SL9 0RJ, UK
| | - Alexander Hammers
- Centre for Neuroscience, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
- MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Hammersmith Hospital, London W12 0NN, UK
- King's College London & Guy's and St Thomas' PET Centre, School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, London SE1 7EH, UK
- Neurodis Foundation, CERMEP, Imagerie du Vivant, 69003 Lyon, France
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24
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Marques TR, Ashok AH, Angelescu I, Borgan F, Myers J, Lingford-Hughes A, Nutt DJ, Veronese M, Turkheimer FE, Howes OD. GABA-A receptor differences in schizophrenia: a positron emission tomography study using [ 11C]Ro154513. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:2616-2625. [PMID: 32296127 PMCID: PMC8440185 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-020-0711-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Revised: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
A loss of GABA signaling is a prevailing hypothesis for the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Preclinical studies indicate that blockade of the α5 subtype of the GABA receptor (α5-GABAARs) leads to behavioral phenotypes associated with schizophrenia, and postmortem evidence indicates lower hippocampal α5-GABAARs protein and mRNA levels in schizophrenia. However, it is unclear if α5-GABAARs are altered in vivo or related to symptoms. We investigated α5-GABAARs availability in antipsychotic-free schizophrenia patients and antipsychotic-medicated schizophrenia patients using [11C]Ro15-4513 PET imaging in a cross-sectional, case-control study design. Thirty-one schizophrenia patients (n = 10 antipsychotic free) and twenty-nine matched healthy controls underwent a [11C]Ro15-4513 PET scan and MRI. The α5 subtype GABA-A receptor availability was indexed using [11C]Ro15-4513 PET imaging. Dynamic PET data were analyzed using the two-tissue compartment model with an arterial plasma input function and total volume of distribution (VT) as the outcome measure. Symptom severity was assessed using the PANSS scale. There was significantly lower [11C]Ro15-4513 VT in the hippocampus of antipsychotic-free patients, but not in medicated patients (p = 0.64), relative to healthy controls (p < 0.05; effect size = 1.4). There was also a significant positive correlation between [11C]Ro15-4513 VT and total PANSS score in antipsychotic-free patients (r = 0.72; p = 0.044). The results suggest that antipsychotic-free patients with schizophrenia have lower α5-GABAARs levels in the hippocampus, consistent with the hypothesis that GABA hypofunction underlies the pathophysiology of the disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiago Reis Marques
- Psychiatric Imaging Group, MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences (LMS), Imperial College London, London, UK. .,Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
| | - Abhishekh H. Ashok
- grid.14105.310000000122478951Psychiatric Imaging Group, MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences (LMS), Imperial College London, London, UK ,grid.13097.3c0000 0001 2322 6764Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Ilinca Angelescu
- grid.13097.3c0000 0001 2322 6764Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Faith Borgan
- grid.14105.310000000122478951Psychiatric Imaging Group, MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences (LMS), Imperial College London, London, UK ,grid.13097.3c0000 0001 2322 6764Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Jim Myers
- grid.7445.20000 0001 2113 8111Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Anne Lingford-Hughes
- grid.7445.20000 0001 2113 8111Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, Centre for Psychiatry, Division of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - David J. Nutt
- grid.7445.20000 0001 2113 8111Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, Centre for Psychiatry, Division of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Mattia Veronese
- grid.13097.3c0000 0001 2322 6764Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Federico E. Turkheimer
- grid.13097.3c0000 0001 2322 6764Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Oliver D. Howes
- grid.14105.310000000122478951Psychiatric Imaging Group, MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences (LMS), Imperial College London, London, UK ,grid.13097.3c0000 0001 2322 6764Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
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25
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Thalamic and prefrontal GABA concentrations but not GABA A receptor densities are altered in high-functioning adults with autism spectrum disorder. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:1634-1646. [PMID: 32376999 PMCID: PMC7644591 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-020-0756-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2019] [Revised: 03/11/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurotransmission system has been implicated in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Molecular neuroimaging studies incorporating simultaneous acquisitions of GABA concentrations and GABAA receptor densities can identify objective molecular markers in ASD. We measured both total GABAA receptor densities by using [18F]flumazenil positron emission tomography ([18F]FMZ-PET) and GABA concentrations by using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) in 28 adults with ASD and 29 age-matched typically developing (TD) individuals. Focusing on the bilateral thalami and the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) as our regions of interest, we found no differences in GABAA receptor densities between ASD and TD groups. However, 1H-MRS measurements revealed significantly higher GABA/Water (GABA normalized by water signal) in the left DLPFC of individuals with ASD than that of TD controls. Furthermore, a significant gender effect was observed in the thalami, with higher GABA/Water in males than in females. Hypothesizing that thalamic GABA correlates with ASD symptom severity in gender-specific ways, we stratified by diagnosis and investigated the interaction between gender and thalamic GABA/Water in predicting Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) and Ritvo Autism Asperger's Diagnostic Scale-Revised (RAADS-R) total scores. We found that gender is a significant effect modifier of thalamic GABA/Water's relationship with AQ and RAADS-R scores for individuals with ASD, but not for TD controls. When we separated the ASD participants by gender, a negative correlation between thalamic GABA/Water and AQ was observed in male ASD participants. Remarkably, in female ASD participants, a positive correlation between thalamic GABA/Water and AQ was found.
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26
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Serotonin transporter availability in adults with autism-a positron emission tomography study. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:1647-1658. [PMID: 32848204 PMCID: PMC8159737 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-020-00868-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2019] [Revised: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Impairments in social interaction and communication, in combination with restricted, repetitive behaviors and interests, define the neurodevelopmental diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The biological underpinnings of ASD are not well known, but the hypothesis of serotonin (5-HT) involvement in the neurodevelopment of ASD is one of the longest standing. Reuptake through the 5-HT transporter (5-HTT) is the main pathway decreasing extracellular 5-HT in the brain and a marker for the 5-HT system, but in vivo investigations of the 5-HTT and the 5-HT system in ASD are scarce and so far inconclusive. To quantify possible alterations in the 5-HT system in ASD, we used positron emission tomography and the radioligand [11C]MADAM to measure 5-HTT availability in the brain of 15 adults with ASD and 15 controls. Moreover, we examined correlations between regional 5-HTT availability and behavioral phenotype assessments regarding ASD core symptoms. In the ASD group, we found significantly lower 5-HTT availability in total gray matter, brainstem, and 9 of 18 examined subregions of gray matter. In addition, several correlations between regional 5-HTT availability and social cognitive test performance were found. The results confirm the hypothesis that 5-HTT availability is lower in the brain of adult individuals with ASD, and are consistent with the theory of 5-HT involvement in ASD neurodevelopment. The findings endorse the central role of 5-HT in the physiology of ASD, and confirm the need for a continued investigation of the 5-HT system in order to disentangle the biology of ASD.
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27
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Rein B, Yan Z. 16p11.2 Copy Number Variations and Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Trends Neurosci 2020; 43:886-901. [PMID: 32993859 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2020.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 08/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Copy number variations (CNVs) of the human 16p11.2 genetic locus are associated with a range of neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, and epilepsy. In this review, we delineate genetic information and diverse phenotypes in individuals with 16p11.2 CNVs, and synthesize preclinical findings from transgenic mouse models of 16p11.2 CNVs. Mice with 16p11.2 deletions or duplications recapitulate many core behavioral phenotypes, including social and cognitive deficits, and exhibit altered synaptic function across various brain areas. Mechanisms of transcriptional dysregulation and cortical maldevelopment are reviewed, along with potential therapeutic intervention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Rein
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, State University of New York at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA.
| | - Zhen Yan
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, State University of New York at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA.
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28
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Trakoshis S, Martínez-Cañada P, Rocchi F, Canella C, You W, Chakrabarti B, Ruigrok ANV, Bullmore ET, Suckling J, Markicevic M, Zerbi V, Baron-Cohen S, Gozzi A, Lai MC, Panzeri S, Lombardo MV. Intrinsic excitation-inhibition imbalance affects medial prefrontal cortex differently in autistic men versus women. eLife 2020; 9:e55684. [PMID: 32746967 PMCID: PMC7402681 DOI: 10.7554/elife.55684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Excitation-inhibition (E:I) imbalance is theorized as an important pathophysiological mechanism in autism. Autism affects males more frequently than females and sex-related mechanisms (e.g., X-linked genes, androgen hormones) can influence E:I balance. This suggests that E:I imbalance may affect autism differently in males versus females. With a combination of in-silico modeling and in-vivo chemogenetic manipulations in mice, we first show that a time-series metric estimated from fMRI BOLD signal, the Hurst exponent (H), can be an index for underlying change in the synaptic E:I ratio. In autism we find that H is reduced, indicating increased excitation, in the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) of autistic males but not females. Increasingly intact MPFC H is also associated with heightened ability to behaviorally camouflage social-communicative difficulties, but only in autistic females. This work suggests that H in BOLD can index synaptic E:I ratio and that E:I imbalance affects autistic males and females differently.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stavros Trakoshis
- Laboratory for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems @UniTn, Istituto Italiano di TecnologiaRoveretoItaly
- Department of Psychology, University of CyprusNicosiaCyprus
| | - Pablo Martínez-Cañada
- Neural Computation Laboratory, Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems @UniTn, Istituto Italiano di TecnologiaRoveretoItaly
- Optical Approaches to Brain Function Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di TecnologiaGenovaItaly
| | - Federico Rocchi
- Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory, Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems @UniTn, Istituto Italiano di TecnologiaRoveretoItaly
| | - Carola Canella
- Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory, Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems @UniTn, Istituto Italiano di TecnologiaRoveretoItaly
| | - Wonsang You
- Artificial Intelligence and Image Processing Laboratory, Department of Information and Communications Engineering, Sun Moon UniversityAsanRepublic of Korea
| | - Bhismadev Chakrabarti
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
- Centre for Integrative Neuroscience and Neurodynamics, School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of ReadingReadingUnited Kingdom
| | - Amber NV Ruigrok
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Edward T Bullmore
- Cambridgeshire and Peterborough National Health Service Foundation TrustCambridgeUnited Kingdom
- Brain Mapping Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - John Suckling
- Brain Mapping Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Marija Markicevic
- Neural Control of Movement Lab, D-HEST, ETH ZurichZurichSwitzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University and ETH ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | - Valerio Zerbi
- Neural Control of Movement Lab, D-HEST, ETH ZurichZurichSwitzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University and ETH ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | | | - Simon Baron-Cohen
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
- Cambridgeshire and Peterborough National Health Service Foundation TrustCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Alessandro Gozzi
- Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory, Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems @UniTn, Istituto Italiano di TecnologiaRoveretoItaly
| | - Meng-Chuan Lai
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
- The Margaret and Wallace McCain Centre for Child, Youth & Family Mental Health, Azrieli Adult Neurodevelopmental Centre, and Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental HealthTorontoCanada
- Department of Psychiatry and Autism Research Unit, The Hospital for Sick ChildrenTorontoCanada
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of TorontoTorontoCanada
- Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of MedicineTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Stefano Panzeri
- Neural Computation Laboratory, Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems @UniTn, Istituto Italiano di TecnologiaRoveretoItaly
| | - Michael V Lombardo
- Laboratory for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems @UniTn, Istituto Italiano di TecnologiaRoveretoItaly
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
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29
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Adams RA, Bush D, Zheng F, Meyer SS, Kaplan R, Orfanos S, Marques TR, Howes OD, Burgess N. Impaired theta phase coupling underlies frontotemporal dysconnectivity in schizophrenia. Brain 2020; 143:1261-1277. [PMID: 32236540 PMCID: PMC7174039 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awaa035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2019] [Revised: 11/21/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Frontotemporal dysconnectivity is a key pathology in schizophrenia. The specific nature of this dysconnectivity is unknown, but animal models imply dysfunctional theta phase coupling between hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). We tested this hypothesis by examining neural dynamics in 18 participants with a schizophrenia diagnosis, both medicated and unmedicated; and 26 age, sex and IQ matched control subjects. All participants completed two tasks known to elicit hippocampal-prefrontal theta coupling: a spatial memory task (during magnetoencephalography) and a memory integration task. In addition, an overlapping group of 33 schizophrenia and 29 control subjects underwent PET to measure the availability of GABAARs expressing the α5 subunit (concentrated on hippocampal somatostatin interneurons). We demonstrate-in the spatial memory task, during memory recall-that theta power increases in left medial temporal lobe (mTL) are impaired in schizophrenia, as is theta phase coupling between mPFC and mTL. Importantly, the latter cannot be explained by theta power changes, head movement, antipsychotics, cannabis use, or IQ, and is not found in other frequency bands. Moreover, mPFC-mTL theta coupling correlated strongly with performance in controls, but not in subjects with schizophrenia, who were mildly impaired at the spatial memory task and no better than chance on the memory integration task. Finally, mTL regions showing reduced phase coupling in schizophrenia magnetoencephalography participants overlapped substantially with areas of diminished α5-GABAAR availability in the wider schizophrenia PET sample. These results indicate that mPFC-mTL dysconnectivity in schizophrenia is due to a loss of theta phase coupling, and imply α5-GABAARs (and the cells that express them) have a role in this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rick A Adams
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, 17 Queen Square, London, WC1N 3AZ, UK.,Division of Psychiatry, University College London, 149 Tottenham Court Road, London, W1T 7NF, UK.,Max Planck-UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research, 10-12 Russell Square, London, WC1B 5EH, UK.,Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Computer Science, University College London, Malet Place, London, WC1E 7JE, UK.,Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, University College London, 12 Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Daniel Bush
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, 17 Queen Square, London, WC1N 3AZ, UK.,Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Fanfan Zheng
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, 17 Queen Square, London, WC1N 3AZ, UK.,Brainnetome Center, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 95 Zhongguancun East Road, 100190 Beijing, China
| | - Sofie S Meyer
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, 17 Queen Square, London, WC1N 3AZ, UK.,Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Raphael Kaplan
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, University College London, 12 Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK.,Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Stelios Orfanos
- South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust, Springfield University Hospital, 61 Glenburnie Rd, London SW17 7DJ, UK.,Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King's College London, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Tiago Reis Marques
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, W12 0NN, UK.,Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Oliver D Howes
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, London, W12 0NN, UK.,Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Neil Burgess
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, 17 Queen Square, London, WC1N 3AZ, UK.,Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, University College London, 12 Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK.,Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
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30
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Altered Expression of GABAergic Markers in the Forebrain of Young and Adult Engrailed-2 Knockout Mice. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11040384. [PMID: 32244845 PMCID: PMC7231099 DOI: 10.3390/genes11040384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2020] [Revised: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Impaired function of GABAergic interneurons, and the subsequent alteration of excitation/inhibition balance, is thought to contribute to autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Altered numbers of GABAergic interneurons and reduced expression of GABA receptors has been detected in the brain of ASD subjects and mouse models of ASD. We previously showed a reduced expression of GABAergic interneuron markers parvalbumin (PV) and somatostatin (SST) in the forebrain of adult mice lacking the Engrailed2 gene (En2-/- mice). Here, we extended this analysis to postnatal day (P) 30 by using in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, and quantitative RT-PCR to study the expression of GABAergic interneuron markers in the hippocampus and somatosensory cortex of En2-/- and wild type (WT) mice. In addition, GABA receptor subunit mRNA expression was investigated by quantitative RT-PCR in the same brain regions of P30 and adult En2-/- and WT mice. As observed in adult animals, PV and SST expression was decreased in En2-/- forebrain of P30 mice. The expression of GABA receptor subunits (including the ASD-relevant Gabrb3) was also altered in young and adult En2-/- forebrain. Our results suggest that GABAergic neurotransmission deficits are already evident at P30, confirming that neurodevelopmental defects of GABAergic interneurons occur in the En2 mouse model of ASD.
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Di J, Li J, O’Hara B, Alberts I, Xiong L, Li J, Li X. The role of GABAergic neural circuits in the pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorder. Int J Dev Neurosci 2020; 80:73-85. [DOI: 10.1002/jdn.10005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Accepted: 12/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jing Di
- Department of Neurology David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Los Angeles CA USA
| | - Jian Li
- Department of Pediatrics the Second Xiangya HospitalCentral South University Changsha P.R. China
| | - Bruce O’Hara
- Department of Biology University of Kentucky Lexington KY USA
| | - Ian Alberts
- Department of Natural Sciences LaGuardia CCCUNY New York NY USA
| | - Lei Xiong
- Department of Clinical Medicine Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine Kunming P.R. China
| | - Jijun Li
- Department of Integrative Medicine on Pediatrics Shanghai Children’s Medical Center Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Shanghai P.R. China
| | - Xiaohong Li
- Department of Neurochemistry New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities New York NY USA
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32
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Pianp deficiency links GABA B receptor signaling and hippocampal and cerebellar neuronal cell composition to autism-like behavior. Mol Psychiatry 2020; 25:2979-2993. [PMID: 31511635 PMCID: PMC7577901 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-019-0519-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2019] [Revised: 05/31/2019] [Accepted: 07/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Pianp (also known as Leda-1) is a type I transmembrane protein with preferential expression in the mammalian CNS. Its processing is characterized by proteolytic cleavage by a range of proteases including Adam10, Adam17, MMPs, and the γ-secretase complex. Pianp can interact with Pilrα and the GB1a subunit of the GABAB receptor (GBR) complex. A recent case description of a boy with global developmental delay and homozygous nonsense variant in PIANP supports the hypothesis that PIANP is involved in the control of behavioral traits in mammals. To investigate the physiological functions of Pianp, constitutive, global knockout mice were generated and comprehensively analyzed. Broad assessment did not indicate malformation or malfunction of internal organs. In the brain, however, decreased sizes and altered cellular compositions of the dentate gyrus as well as the cerebellum, including a lower number of cerebellar Purkinje cells, were identified. Functionally, loss of Pianp led to impaired presynaptic GBR-mediated inhibition of glutamate release and altered gene expression in the cortex, hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus including downregulation of Erdr1, a gene linked to autism-like behavior. Behavioral phenotyping revealed that Pianp deficiency leads to context-dependent enhanced anxiety and spatial learning deficits, an altered stress response, severely impaired social interaction, and enhanced repetitive behavior, which all represent characteristic features of an autism spectrum disorder-like phenotype. Altogether, Pianp represents a novel candidate gene involved in autism-like behavior, cerebellar and hippocampal pathology, and GBR signaling.
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33
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Rivell A, Mattson MP. Intergenerational Metabolic Syndrome and Neuronal Network Hyperexcitability in Autism. Trends Neurosci 2019; 42:709-726. [PMID: 31495451 PMCID: PMC6779523 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2019.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2019] [Revised: 07/17/2019] [Accepted: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
We review evidence that suggests a role for excessive consumption of energy-dense foods, particularly fructose, and consequent obesity and insulin resistance (metabolic syndrome) in the recent increase in prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Maternal insulin resistance, obesity, and diabetes may predispose offspring to ASD by mechanisms involving chronic activation of anabolic cellular pathways and a lack of metabolic switching to ketosis resulting in a deficit in GABAergic signaling and neuronal network hyperexcitability. Metabolic reprogramming by epigenetic DNA and chromatin modifications may contribute to alterations in gene expression that result in ASD. These mechanistic insights suggest that interventions that improve metabolic health such as intermittent fasting and exercise may ameliorate developmental neuronal network abnormalities and consequent behavioral manifestations in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aileen Rivell
- Laboratory of Neurosciences, National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Mark P Mattson
- Laboratory of Neurosciences, National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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34
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Jacob TC. Neurobiology and Therapeutic Potential of α5-GABA Type A Receptors. Front Mol Neurosci 2019; 12:179. [PMID: 31396049 PMCID: PMC6668551 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2019.00179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
α5 subunit containing GABA type A receptors (GABAARs) have long been an enigmatic receptor subtype of interest due to their specific brain distribution, unusual surface localization and key role in synaptic plasticity, cognition and memory. These receptors are uniquely positioned to sculpt both the developing and mature hippocampal circuitry due to high overall expression and a distinct peak within the critical synapse formation period during the second postnatal week. Unlike the majority of other GABAARs, they exhibit both receptor clustering at extrasynaptic sites via interactions with the radixin scaffold as well as synaptic sites via gephyrin, thus contributing respectively to tonic currents and synaptic GABAergic neurotransmission. α5 GABAAR signaling can be altered in neurodevelopmental disorders including autism and mental retardation and by inflammation in CNS injury and disease. Due to the unique physiology and pharmacology of α5 GABAARs, drugs targeting these receptors are being developed and tested as treatments for neurodevelopmental disorders, depression, schizophrenia, and mild cognitive impairment. This review article focuses on advances in understanding how the α5 subunit contributes to GABAAR neurobiology. In particular, I discuss both recent insights and remaining knowledge gaps for the functional role of these receptors, pathologies associated with α5 GABAAR dysfunction, and the effects and potential therapeutic uses of α5 receptor subtype targeted drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tija C Jacob
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
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35
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Enhanced Glutamatergic Currents at Birth in Shank3 KO Mice. Neural Plast 2019; 2019:2382639. [PMID: 31354805 PMCID: PMC6636579 DOI: 10.1155/2019/2382639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2019] [Revised: 05/13/2019] [Accepted: 05/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are neurodevelopmental disorders induced by genetic and environmental factors. In our recent studies, we showed that the GABA developmental shifts during delivery and the second postnatal week are abolished in two rodent models of ASD. Maternal treatment around birth with bumetanide restored the GABA developmental sequence and attenuated the autism pathogenesis in offspring. Clinical trials conducted in parallel confirmed the usefulness of bumetanide treatment to attenuate the symptoms in children with ASD. Collectively, these observations suggest that an alteration of the GABA developmental sequence is a hallmark of ASD. Here, we investigated whether similar alterations occur in the Shank3 mouse model of ASD. We report that in CA3 pyramidal neurons, the driving force and inhibitory action of GABA are not different in naïve and Shank3-mutant age-matched animals at birth and during the second postnatal week. In contrast, the frequency of spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents is already enhanced at birth and persists through postnatal day 15. Therefore, in CA3 pyramidal neurons of Shank3-mutant mice, glutamatergic but not GABAergic activity is affected at early developmental stages, hence reflecting the heterogeneity of mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of ASD.
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