1
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Dai X, Liang R, Dai M, Li X, Zhao W. Smoking Impacts Alzheimer's Disease Progression Through Oral Microbiota Modulation. Mol Neurobiol 2024:10.1007/s12035-024-04241-1. [PMID: 38795302 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-04241-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/27/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an important public health challenge with a limited understanding of its pathogenesis. Smoking is a significant modifiable risk factor for AD progression, and its specific mechanism is often interpreted from a toxicological perspective. However, microbial infections also contribute to AD, with oral microbiota playing a crucial role in its progression. Notably, smoking alters the ecological structure and pathogenicity of the oral microbiota. Currently, there is no systematic review or summary of the relationship between these three factors; thus, understanding this association can help in the development of new treatments. This review summarizes the connections between smoking, AD, and oral microbiota from existing research. It also explores how smoking affects the occurrence and development of AD through oral microbiota, and examines treatments for oral microbiota that delay the progression of AD. Furthermore, this review emphasizes the potential of the oral microbiota to act as a biomarker for AD. Finally, it considers the feasibility of probiotics and oral antibacterial therapy to expand treatment methods for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingzhu Dai
- Department of Stomatology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Stomatology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Rui Liang
- Department of Stomatology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Manqiong Dai
- Department of Stomatology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoyu Li
- Department of Stomatology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wanghong Zhao
- Department of Stomatology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
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2
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Bekci E, Gokmen RC, Kanit L, Gozen O, Balkan B, Koylu EO, Keser A. Enhanced Novel Object Recognition and Spatial Memory in Rats Selectively Bred for High Nicotine Preference. Brain Sci 2024; 14:427. [PMID: 38790406 PMCID: PMC11118842 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14050427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
This study examined the influence of genetic background on cognitive performance in a selectively bred high nicotine-preferring (NP) rat line. Using the novel object recognition (NOR), novel location recognition (NLR), and Morris water maze (MWM) tests, we evaluated object memory, spatial memory, and spatial navigation in nicotine-naive NP rats compared to controls. Our results demonstrate that in the NOR test, both male and female NP rats spent more time exploring the novel object (higher discrimination index) compared to sex-matched controls. In the NLR, the discrimination index differed significantly from zero chance (no preference) in both NP males and females but not in controls, indicating enhanced spatial memory in the NP line. During MWM acquisition, the NP groups and control males took a shorter path to reach the platform compared to control females. On the probe trial, the distance traveled in the target quadrant was longer for NP males and females compared to their respective controls, suggesting enhanced spatial navigation and learning in the NP rats. The interesting preference for novel objects and locations displayed by NP rats may indicate a potential novelty-seeking phenotype in this line. These results highlight the complex interplay between genetic factors, cognitive function, and nicotine preference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eren Bekci
- Neuroscience Department, Institute of Health Sciences, Ege University, Izmir 35100, Turkey
| | - Ramazan Can Gokmen
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Ege University, Izmir 35100, Turkey
| | - Lutfiye Kanit
- Neuroscience Department, Institute of Health Sciences, Ege University, Izmir 35100, Turkey
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Ege University, Izmir 35100, Turkey
| | - Oguz Gozen
- Neuroscience Department, Institute of Health Sciences, Ege University, Izmir 35100, Turkey
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Ege University, Izmir 35100, Turkey
| | - Burcu Balkan
- Neuroscience Department, Institute of Health Sciences, Ege University, Izmir 35100, Turkey
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Ege University, Izmir 35100, Turkey
| | - Ersin O. Koylu
- Neuroscience Department, Institute of Health Sciences, Ege University, Izmir 35100, Turkey
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Ege University, Izmir 35100, Turkey
| | - Aysegul Keser
- Neuroscience Department, Institute of Health Sciences, Ege University, Izmir 35100, Turkey
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Ege University, Izmir 35100, Turkey
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3
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Crestini A, Carbone E, Rivabene R, Ancidoni A, Rosa P, Tata AM, Fabrizi E, Locuratolo N, Vanacore N, Lacorte E, Piscopo P. A Systematic Review on Drugs Acting as Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Agonists in the Treatment of Dementia. Cells 2024; 13:237. [PMID: 38334629 PMCID: PMC10854606 DOI: 10.3390/cells13030237] [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: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Acetylcholine signaling is attenuated in early Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other dementias. A significant reduction in the expression of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in the brain of AD patients has also been reported in several molecular biological and in situ labeling studies. The modulation of the functional deficit of the cholinergic system as a pharmacological target could therefore have a clinical benefit, which is not to be neglected. This systematic review was conducted to identify clinical trials, which evaluated the safety and efficacy of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists using Clinicaltrial (CT) and EudraCT databases. Structured searches identified 39 trials, which used 15 different drugs designed to increase the function of the nAChRs. Most of the identified clinical trials were phase II trials, with some of them classified as ongoing for several years. The systematic screening of the literature led to the selection of 14 studies out of the 8261 bibliographic records retrieved. Six trials reported detailed data on adverse events associated with the intervention, while twelve trials reported data on efficacy measures, such as attention, behavior and cognition. Overall, smost of the physical side effects of cholinergic agonists were reported to be well tolerated. Some trials also reported improvements in attention. However, the efficacy of these drugs in other cognitive and behavioral outcomes remains highly controversial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessio Crestini
- Department of Neuroscience, Italian National Institute of Health, 00161 Rome, Italy; (E.C.); (R.R.); (P.P.)
| | - Elena Carbone
- Department of Neuroscience, Italian National Institute of Health, 00161 Rome, Italy; (E.C.); (R.R.); (P.P.)
| | - Roberto Rivabene
- Department of Neuroscience, Italian National Institute of Health, 00161 Rome, Italy; (E.C.); (R.R.); (P.P.)
| | - Antonio Ancidoni
- National Center for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Italian National Institute of Health, 00161 Rome, Italy; (A.A.); (N.L.); (N.V.); (E.L.)
| | - Paolo Rosa
- Department of Medical-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Polo Pontino, 04100 Latina, Italy;
- ICOT (Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Surgery), 04100 Latina, Italy
| | - Ada Maria Tata
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies Charles Darwin, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy;
- Research Center in Neurobiology Daniel Bovet, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Elisa Fabrizi
- National Center for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Italian National Institute of Health, 00161 Rome, Italy; (A.A.); (N.L.); (N.V.); (E.L.)
- Doctoral School, The Catholic University of Valencia San Vicente Mártir, 46001 Valencia, Spain
| | - Nicoletta Locuratolo
- National Center for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Italian National Institute of Health, 00161 Rome, Italy; (A.A.); (N.L.); (N.V.); (E.L.)
| | - Nicola Vanacore
- National Center for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Italian National Institute of Health, 00161 Rome, Italy; (A.A.); (N.L.); (N.V.); (E.L.)
| | - Eleonora Lacorte
- National Center for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Italian National Institute of Health, 00161 Rome, Italy; (A.A.); (N.L.); (N.V.); (E.L.)
| | - Paola Piscopo
- Department of Neuroscience, Italian National Institute of Health, 00161 Rome, Italy; (E.C.); (R.R.); (P.P.)
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4
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Xiang S, Lawrence PJ, Peng B, Chiang C, Kim D, Shen L, Ning X. Modeling Path Importance for Effective Alzheimer's Disease Drug Repurposing. PACIFIC SYMPOSIUM ON BIOCOMPUTING. PACIFIC SYMPOSIUM ON BIOCOMPUTING 2024; 29:306-321. [PMID: 38160288 PMCID: PMC11056095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Recently, drug repurposing has emerged as an effective and resource-efficient paradigm for AD drug discovery. Among various methods for drug repurposing, network-based methods have shown promising results as they are capable of leveraging complex networks that integrate multiple interaction types, such as protein-protein interactions, to more effectively identify candidate drugs. However, existing approaches typically assume paths of the same length in the network have equal importance in identifying the therapeutic effect of drugs. Other domains have found that same length paths do not necessarily have the same importance. Thus, relying on this assumption may be deleterious to drug repurposing attempts. In this work, we propose MPI (Modeling Path Importance), a novel network-based method for AD drug repurposing. MPI is unique in that it prioritizes important paths via learned node embeddings, which can effectively capture a network's rich structural information. Thus, leveraging learned embeddings allows MPI to effectively differentiate the importance among paths. We evaluate MPI against a commonly used baseline method that identifies anti-AD drug candidates primarily based on the shortest paths between drugs and AD in the network. We observe that among the top-50 ranked drugs, MPI prioritizes 20.0% more drugs with anti-AD evidence compared to the baseline. Finally, Cox proportional-hazard models produced from insurance claims data aid us in identifying the use of etodolac, nicotine, and BBB-crossing ACE-INHs as having a reduced risk of AD, suggesting such drugs may be viable candidates for repurposing and should be explored further in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shunian Xiang
- Biomedical Informatics Department, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Patrick J. Lawrence
- Biomedical Informatics Department, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Bo Peng
- Computer Science and Engineering Department, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - ChienWei Chiang
- Biomedical Informatics Department, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Dokyoon Kim
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - Li Shen
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - Xia Ning
- Biomedical Informatics Department, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Computer Science and Engineering Department, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Translational Data Analytics Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
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5
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Boiangiu RS, Brinza I, Honceriu I, Mihasan M, Hritcu L. Insights into Pharmacological Activities of Nicotine and 6-Hydroxy-L-nicotine, a Bacterial Nicotine Derivative: A Systematic Review. Biomolecules 2023; 14:23. [PMID: 38254623 PMCID: PMC10813004 DOI: 10.3390/biom14010023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The purported cognitive benefits associated with nicotine and its metabolites in the brain are a matter of debate. In this review, the impact of the pharmacologically active metabolite of a nicotine derivative produced by bacteria named 6-hydroxy-L-nicotine (6HLN) on memory, oxidative stress, and the activity of the cholinergic system in the brain was examined. A search in the PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases, limiting entries to those published between 1992 and 2023, was conducted. The search focused specifically on articles about nicotine metabolites, memory, oxidative stress, and cholinergic system activity, as well as enzymes or pathways related to nicotine degradation in bacteria. The preliminary search resulted in 696 articles, and following the application of exclusion criteria, 212 articles were deemed eligible for inclusion. This review focuses on experimental studies supporting nicotine catabolism in bacteria, and the chemical and pharmacological activities of nicotine and its metabolite 6HLN.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Marius Mihasan
- BioActive Research Group, Department of Biology, Faculty of Biology, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, 700506 Iasi, Romania; (R.S.B.); (I.B.); (I.H.)
| | - Lucian Hritcu
- BioActive Research Group, Department of Biology, Faculty of Biology, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, 700506 Iasi, Romania; (R.S.B.); (I.B.); (I.H.)
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6
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Esaki H, Deyama S, Izumi S, Katsura A, Nishikawa K, Nishitani N, Kaneda K. Varenicline enhances recognition memory via α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the medial prefrontal cortex in male mice. Neuropharmacology 2023; 239:109672. [PMID: 37506875 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies postulated that chronic administration of varenicline, a partial and full agonist at α4β2 and α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), respectively, enhances recognition memory. However, whether its acute administration is effective, on which brain region(s) it acts, and in what signaling it is involved, remain unknown. To address these issues, we conducted a novel object recognition test using male C57BL/6J mice, focusing on the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), a brain region associated with nicotine-induced enhancement of recognition memory. Systemic administration of varenicline before the training dose-dependently enhanced recognition memory. Intra-mPFC varenicline infusion also enhanced recognition memory, and this enhancement was blocked by intra-mPFC co-infusion of a selective α7, but not α4β2, nAChR antagonist. Consistent with this, intra-mPFC infusion of a selective α7 nAChR agonist augmented object recognition memory. Furthermore, intra-mPFC co-infusion of U-73122, a phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitor, or 2-aminoethoxydiphenylborane (2-APB), an inositol trisphosphate (IP3) receptor inhibitor, suppressed the varenicline-induced memory enhancement, suggesting that α7 nAChRs may also act as Gq-coupled metabotropic receptors. Additionally, whole-cell recordings from mPFC layer V pyramidal neurons in vitro revealed that varenicline significantly increased the summation of evoked excitatory postsynaptic potentials, and this effect was suppressed by U-73122 or 2-APB. These findings suggest that varenicline might acutely enhance recognition memory via mPFC α7 nAChR stimulation, followed by mPFC neuronal excitation, which is mediated by the activation of PLC and IP3 receptor signaling. Our study provides evidence supporting the potential repositioning of varenicline as a treatment for cognitive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hirohito Esaki
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, 920-1192, Japan
| | - Satoshi Deyama
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, 920-1192, Japan
| | - Shoma Izumi
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, 920-1192, Japan
| | - Ayano Katsura
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, 920-1192, Japan
| | - Keisuke Nishikawa
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, 920-1192, Japan
| | - Naoya Nishitani
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, 920-1192, Japan
| | - Katsuyuki Kaneda
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, 920-1192, Japan.
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7
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Xiang S, Lawrence PJ, Peng B, Chiang C, Kim D, Shen L, Ning X. Modeling Path Importance for Effective Alzheimer's Disease Drug Repurposing. ARXIV 2023:arXiv:2310.15211v2. [PMID: 37961739 PMCID: PMC10635281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Recently, drug repurposing has emerged as an effective and resource-efficient paradigm for AD drug discovery. Among various methods for drug repurposing, network-based methods have shown promising results as they are capable of leveraging complex networks that integrate multiple interaction types, such as protein-protein interactions, to more effectively identify candidate drugs. However, existing approaches typically assume paths of the same length in the network have equal importance in identifying the therapeutic effect of drugs. Other domains have found that same length paths do not necessarily have the same importance. Thus, relying on this assumption may be deleterious to drug repurposing attempts. In this work, we propose MPI (Modeling Path Importance), a novel network-based method for AD drug repurposing. MPI is unique in that it prioritizes important paths via learned node embeddings, which can effectively capture a network's rich structural information. Thus, leveraging learned embeddings allows MPI to effectively differentiate the importance among paths. We evaluate MPI against a commonly used baseline method that identifies anti-AD drug candidates primarily based on the shortest paths between drugs and AD in the network. We observe that among the top-50 ranked drugs, MPI prioritizes 20.0% more drugs with anti-AD evidence compared to the baseline. Finally, Cox proportional-hazard models produced from insurance claims data aid us in identifying the use of etodolac, nicotine, and BBB-crossing ACE-INHs as having a reduced risk of AD, suggesting such drugs may be viable candidates for repurposing and should be explored further in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shunian Xiang
- Biomedical Informatics Department, The Ohio State University,
Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Patrick J. Lawrence
- Biomedical Informatics Department, The Ohio State University,
Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Bo Peng
- Computer Science and Engineering Department, The Ohio State
University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - ChienWei Chiang
- Biomedical Informatics Department, The Ohio State University,
Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Dokyoon Kim
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics,
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - Li Shen
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics,
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - Xia Ning
- Biomedical Informatics Department, The Ohio State University,
Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Computer Science and Engineering Department, The Ohio State
University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Translational Data Analytics Institute, The Ohio State
University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
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8
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Vauzour D, Scholey A, White DJ, Cohen NJ, Cassidy A, Gillings R, Irvine MA, Kay CD, Kim M, King R, Legido-Quigley C, Potter JF, Schwarb H, Minihane AM. A combined DHA-rich fish oil and cocoa flavanols intervention does not improve cognition or brain structure in older adults with memory complaints: results from the CANN randomized, controlled parallel-design study. Am J Clin Nutr 2023; 118:369-381. [PMID: 37315924 PMCID: PMC10447509 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2023.06.008] [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: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is evidence that both omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) (eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA] and docosahexaenoic acid [DHA]) and cocoa flavanols can improve cognitive performance in both healthy individuals and in those with memory complaints. However, their combined effect is unknown. OBJECTIVES To investigate the combined effect of EPA/DHA and cocoa flavanols (OM3FLAV) on cognitive performance and brain structures in older adults with memory complaints. METHODS A randomized placebo-controlled trial of DHA-rich fish oil (providing 1.1 g/d DHA and 0.4 g/d EPA) and a flavanol-rich dark chocolate (providing 500 mg/d flavan-3-ols) was conducted in 259 older adults with either subjective cognitive impairment or mild cognitive impairment. Participants underwent assessment at baseline, 3 mo, and 12 mo. The primary outcome was the number of false-positives on a picture recognition task from the Cognitive Drug Research computerized assessment battery. Secondary outcomes included other cognition and mood outcomes, plasma lipids, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and glucose levels. A subset of 110 participants underwent structural neuroimaging at baseline and at 12 mo. RESULTS 197 participants completed the study. The combined intervention had no significant effect on any cognitive outcomes, with the exception of reaction time variability (P = 0.007), alertness (P < 0.001), and executive function (P < 0.001), with a decline in function observed in the OM3FLAV group (118.6 [SD 25.3] at baseline versus 113.3 [SD 25.4] at 12 mo for executive function) relative to the control, and an associated decrease in cortical volume (P = 0.039). Compared with the control group, OM3FLAV increased plasma HDL, total cholesterol ratio (P < 0.001), and glucose (P = 0.008) and reduced TG concentrations (P < 0.001) by 3 mo, which were sustained to 12 mo, with no effect on BDNF. Changes in plasma EPA and DHA and urinary flavonoid metabolite concentrations confirmed compliance to the intervention. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that cosupplementation with ω-3 PUFAs and cocoa flavanols for 12 mo does not improve cognitive outcomes in those with cognitive impairment. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02525198.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Vauzour
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia (UEA), Norwich, United Kingdom.
| | - Andrew Scholey
- Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Swinburne University, Australia.
| | - David J White
- Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Swinburne University, Australia
| | - Neal J Cohen
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States
| | - Aedín Cassidy
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia (UEA), Norwich, United Kingdom; Institute for Global Food Security, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland
| | - Rachel Gillings
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia (UEA), Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Michael A Irvine
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia (UEA), Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Colin D Kay
- Plants for Human Health Institute, Food Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences Department, North Carolina State University, North Carolina Research Campus, Kannapolis, NC, United States
| | - Min Kim
- Translational and Clinical Chemistry, Kings College London, London, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Rebecca King
- Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Swinburne University, Australia
| | | | - John F Potter
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia (UEA), Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Hilary Schwarb
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States
| | - Anne-Marie Minihane
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia (UEA), Norwich, United Kingdom; Norwich Institute of Healthy Ageing (NIHA), UEA, Norwich, Norwich, United Kingdom
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9
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Palumbo TB, Miwa JM. Lynx1 and the family of endogenous mammalian neurotoxin-like proteins and their roles in modulating nAChR function. Pharmacol Res 2023; 194:106845. [PMID: 37437646 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2023.106845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
The promise of nicotinic receptors as a therapeutic target has yet to be fully realized, despite solid data supporting their involvement in neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases. The reasons for this are likely complex and manifold, having to do with the widespread action of the cholinergic system and the biophysical mechanism of action of nicotinic receptors leading to fast desensitization and down-regulation. Conventional drug development strategies tend to focus on receptor subtype-specific action of candidate therapeutics, although the broad agonist, nicotine, is being explored in the clinic. The potential negative effects of nicotine make the search for alternate strategies warranted. Prototoxins are a promising yet little-explored avenue of nicotinic receptor drug development. Nicotinic receptors in the brain belong to a complex of proteins, including those that bind to the extracellular face of the receptor, as well as chaperones that bind the intracellular domain, etc. Lynx prototoxins have allosteric modularity effects on receptor function and number and have been implicated in complex in vivo processes such as neuroplasticity, learning, and memory. Their mechanism of action and binding specificity on sets of nAChR subtypes present intriguing possibilities for more efficacious and nuanced therapeutic targeting than nicotinic receptor subtypes alone. An allosteric drug may restrict its actions to physiologically relevant time points, which tend to be correlated with salient events which would be encoded into long-term memory storage. Rather than blanketing the brain with a steady and prolonged elevation of agonist, an allosteric nAChR compound could avoid side effects and loss of efficacy over time. This review details the potential strengths and challenges of prototoxin proteins as therapeutic targets, and some of the utility of such therapeutics based on the emerging understanding of cholinergic signaling in a growing number of complex neural processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Talulla B Palumbo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, 111 Research Dr., Iacocca Hall, B-217, Bethlehem PA, USA.
| | - Julie M Miwa
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, 111 Research Dr., Iacocca Hall, B-217, Bethlehem PA, USA.
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10
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Nicotine's effect on cognition, a friend or foe? Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2023; 124:110723. [PMID: 36736944 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2023.110723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Tobacco smoking is a preventable cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Smoking comes in form of absorption of many compounds, among which nicotine is the main psychoactive component of tobacco and its positive and negative reinforcement effects are proposed to be the key mechanism for the initiation and maintenance of smoking. Growing evidence suggests that the cognitive enhancement effects of nicotine may also contribute to the difficulty of quitting smoking, especially in individuals with psychiatric disorders. In this review, we first introduce the beneficial effect of nicotine on cognition including attention, short-term memory and long-term memory. We next summarize the beneficial effect of nicotine on cognition under pathological conditions, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Schizophrenia, Stress-induced Anxiety, Depression, and drug-induced memory impairment. The possible mechanism underlying nicotine's effect is also explored. Finally, nicotine's detrimental effect on cognition is discussed, including in the prenatal and adolescent periods, and high-dose nicotine- and withdrawal-induced memory impairment is emphasized. Therefore, nicotine serves as both a friend and foe. Nicotine-derived compounds could be a promising strategy to alleviate neurological disease-associated cognitive deficit, however, due to nicotine's detrimental effect, continued educational programs and public awareness campaigns are needed to reduce tobacco use among pregnant women and smoking should be quitted even if it is e-cigarette, especially for the adolescents.
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11
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Kumro J, Tripathi A, Lei Y, Sword J, Callahan P, Terry A, Lu XY, Kirov SA, Pillai A, Blake DT. Chronic basal forebrain activation improves spatial memory, boosts neurotrophin receptor expression, and lowers BACE1 and Aβ42 levels in the cerebral cortex in mice. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:7627-7641. [PMID: 36939283 PMCID: PMC10267632 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhad066] [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: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The etiology of Alzheimer's dementia has been hypothesized in terms of basal forebrain cholinergic decline, and in terms of reflecting beta-amyloid neuropathology. To study these different biological elements, we activated the basal forebrain in 5xFAD Alzheimer's model mice and littermates. Mice received 5 months of 1 h per day intermittent stimulation of the basal forebrain, which includes cholinergic projections to the cortical mantle. Then, mice were behaviorally tested followed by tissue analysis. The 5xFAD mice performed worse in water-maze testing than littermates. Stimulated groups learned the water maze better than unstimulated groups. Stimulated groups had 2-3-fold increases in frontal cortex immunoblot measures of the neurotrophin receptors for nerve growth factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and a more than 50% decrease in the expression of amyloid cleavage enzyme BACE1. Stimulation also led to lower Aβ42 in 5xFAD mice. These data support a causal relationship between basal forebrain activation and both neurotrophin activation and reduced Aβ42 generation and accumulation. The observation that basal forebrain activation suppresses Aβ42 accumulation, combined with the known high-affinity antagonism of nicotinic receptors by Aβ42, documents bidirectional antagonism between acetylcholine and Aβ42.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Kumro
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, United States
| | - Ashutosh Tripathi
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77054, United States
| | - Yun Lei
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, United States
| | - Jeremy Sword
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, United States
| | - Patrick Callahan
- Department of Pharmacology/Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, United States
| | - Alvin Terry
- Department of Pharmacology/Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, United States
| | - Xin-yun Lu
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, United States
| | - Sergei A Kirov
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, United States
| | - Anilkumar Pillai
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77054, United States
- Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, United States
- Research and Development, Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA 30904, United States
| | - David T Blake
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, United States
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12
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Salehi Z, Motlagh Ghoochani BFN, Hasani Nourian Y, Jamalkandi SA, Ghanei M. The controversial effect of smoking and nicotine in SARS-CoV-2 infection. ALLERGY, ASTHMA, AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE CANADIAN SOCIETY OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY 2023; 19:49. [PMID: 37264452 DOI: 10.1186/s13223-023-00797-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
The effects of nicotine and cigarette smoke in many diseases, notably COVID-19 infection, are being debated more frequently. The current basic data for COVID-19 is increasing and indicating the higher risk of COVID-19 infections in smokers due to the overexpression of corresponding host receptors to viral entry. However, current multi-national epidemiological reports indicate a lower incidence of COVID-19 disease in smokers. Current data indicates that smokers are more susceptible to some diseases and more protective of some other. Interestingly, nicotine is also reported to play a dual role, being both inflammatory and anti-inflammatory. In the present study, we tried to investigate the effect of pure nicotine on various cells involved in COVID-19 infection. We followed an organ-based systematic approach to decipher the effect of nicotine in damaged organs corresponding to COVID-19 pathogenesis (12 related diseases). Considering that the effects of nicotine and cigarette smoke are different from each other, it is necessary to be careful in generalizing the effects of nicotine and cigarette to each other in the conducted researches. The generalization and the undifferentiation of nicotine from smoke is a significant bias. Moreover, different doses of nicotine stimulate different effects (dose-dependent response). In addition to further assessing the role of nicotine in COVID-19 infection and any other cases, a clever assessment of underlying diseases should also be considered to achieve a guideline for health providers and a personalized approach to treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Salehi
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Chemical Injuries Research Center, Systems Biology and Poisonings Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Yazdan Hasani Nourian
- Chemical Injuries Research Center, Systems Biology and Poisonings Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sadegh Azimzadeh Jamalkandi
- Chemical Injuries Research Center, Systems Biology and Poisonings Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Mostafa Ghanei
- Chemical Injuries Research Center, Systems Biology and Poisonings Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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13
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Leitzke M. Is the post-COVID-19 syndrome a severe impairment of acetylcholine-orchestrated neuromodulation that responds to nicotine administration? Bioelectron Med 2023; 9:2. [PMID: 36650574 PMCID: PMC9845100 DOI: 10.1186/s42234-023-00104-7] [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: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Following a SARS-CoV-2 infection, many individuals suffer from post-COVID-19 syndrome. It makes them unable to proceed with common everyday activities due to weakness, memory lapses, pain, dyspnea and other unspecific physical complaints. Several investigators could demonstrate that the SARS-CoV-2 related spike glycoprotein (SGP) attaches not only to ACE-2 receptors but also shows DNA sections highly affine to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). The nAChR is the principal structure of cholinergic neuromodulation and is responsible for coordinated neuronal network interaction. Non-intrinsic viral nAChR attachment compromises integrative interneuronal communication substantially. This explains the cognitive, neuromuscular and mood impairment, as well as the vegetative symptoms, characterizing post-COVID-19 syndrome. The agonist ligand nicotine shows an up to 30-fold higher affinity to nACHRs than acetylcholine (ACh). We therefore hypothesize that this molecule could displace the virus from nAChR attachment and pave the way for unimpaired cholinergic signal transmission. Treating several individuals suffering from post-COVID-19 syndrome with a nicotine patch application, we witnessed improvements ranging from immediate and substantial to complete remission in a matter of days.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Leitzke
- Department of Anesthesiology, Helios Clinics, Colditzer Straße 48, 04703, Leisnig, Germany.
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14
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Vilella A, Romoli B, Bodria M, Pons S, Maskos U, Zoli M. Evidence for a protective effect of the loss of α4-containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors on Aβ-related neuropathology in Tg2576 mice. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1097857. [PMID: 37113156 PMCID: PMC10126303 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1097857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Loss of cholinergic neurons as well as α4β2* (* = containing) nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) is a prominent feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Specifically, amyloid β (Aβ), the principal pathogenic factor of AD, is a high affinity ligand for nAChRs. Yet, the pathophysiological role of nAChRs in AD is not well established. Methods In the present study, we have investigated the effects of the loss of α4* nAChRs on the histological alterations of the Tg2576 mouse model of AD (APPswe) crossing hemizygous APPswe mice with mice carrying the genetic inactivation of α4 nAChR subunit (α4KO). Results A global decrease in Aβ plaque load was observed in the forebrain of APPswe/α4KO mice in comparison with APPswe mice, that was particularly marked in neocortex of 15 month-old mice. At the same age, several alterations in synaptophysin immunoreactivity were observed in cortico-hippocampal regions of APPswe mice that were partially counteracted by α4KO. The analysis of the immunoreactivity of specific astroglia (glial fibrillary acidic protein, GFAP) and microglia (ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule, Iba1) markers showed an increase in the number as well as in the area occupied by these cells in APPswe mice that were partially counteracted by α4KO. Conclusion Overall, the present histological study points to a detrimental role of α4* nAChRs that may be specific for Aβ-related neuropathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonietta Vilella
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Center for Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
- *Correspondence: Antonietta Vilella,
| | - Benedetto Romoli
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Center for Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Martina Bodria
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Center for Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Stéphanie Pons
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Neurobiologie Intégrative des Systèmes Cholinergiques, CNRS UMR 3571, Département de Neuroscience, Paris, France
| | - Uwe Maskos
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Neurobiologie Intégrative des Systèmes Cholinergiques, CNRS UMR 3571, Département de Neuroscience, Paris, France
| | - Michele Zoli
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Center for Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
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15
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Rumlerová T, Kube E, Simonet N, Friso F, Politi M. Use of tobacco purge in a therapeutic community for the treatment of substance use disorders. ANTHROPOLOGY OF CONSCIOUSNESS 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/anoc.12169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tereza Rumlerová
- Department of Psychology Palacky University Vodární 6 Olomouc Czech Republic
| | - Eric Kube
- Independent Researcher 248 Lakeview Drive Rd Highland Lake United States
| | - Nahuel Simonet
- Independent Researcher Route de la Poudrière 27 Fribourg Switzerland
| | - Fabio Friso
- Center for Drug Addiction Treatment and Research on Traditional Medicines – Takiwasi Prolongación Alerta 466, Tarapoto Peru
| | - Matteo Politi
- Center for Drug Addiction Treatment and Research on Traditional Medicines – Takiwasi Prolongación Alerta 466 Tarapoto Peru
- Department of Pharmacy University of Chieti‐Pescara Via Vestini 31 Chieti Scalo Italy
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16
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Sun C, Holcman D. Combining transient statistical markers from the EEG signal to predict brain sensitivity to general anesthesia. Biomed Signal Process Control 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bspc.2022.103713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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17
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Nagaraju PG, S A, Priyadarshini P. Tau-aggregation inhibition: promising role of nanoencapsulated dietary molecules in the management of Alzheimer's disease. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2022; 63:11153-11168. [PMID: 35748395 DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2022.2092446] [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] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a cumulative form of dementia associated with memory loss, cognition impairment, and finally leading to death. AD is characterized by abnormal deposits of extracellular beta-amyloid and intracellular Tau-protein tangles throughout the brain. During pathological conditions of AD, Tau protein undergoes various modifications and aggregates over time. A number of clinical trials on patients with AD symptoms have indicated the effectiveness of Tau-based therapies over anti-Aβ treatments. Thus, there is a huge paradigm shift toward Tau aggregation inhibitors. Several bioactives of plants and microbes have been suggested to cross the neuronal cell membrane and play a crucial role in managing neurodegenerative disorders. Bioactives mainly act as active modulators of AD pathology besides having antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential. Studies also demonstrated the potential role of dietary molecules in inhibiting the formation of Tau aggregates and removing toxic Tau. Further, these molecules in nonencapsulated form exert enhanced Tau aggregation inhibition activity both in in vitro and in vivo studies suggesting a remarkable role of nanoencapsulation in AD management. The present article aims to review and discuss the structure-function relationship of Tau protein, the post-translational modifications that aid Tau aggregation and potential bioactives that inhibit Tau aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pramod G Nagaraju
- Department of Molecular Nutrition, CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysuru, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
| | - Ashwini S
- Department of Molecular Nutrition, CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysuru, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
| | - Poornima Priyadarshini
- Department of Molecular Nutrition, CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysuru, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
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18
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Okolichany R, Padala P, Mooney S. Cognitive and Functional Abilities in an Older Adult Veteran Before and After Contracting COVID-19. J Alzheimers Dis Rep 2022; 6:115-120. [PMID: 35530116 PMCID: PMC9028709 DOI: 10.3233/adr-210055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: A 76-year-old male Veteran with a historical diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment was assessed at baseline and follow-up as part of two separate, ongoing studies. He was diagnosed with COVID-19 during the interim. Objective: To report potential effects on cognitive and functional abilities measured before and after contracting COVID-19. Methods: The patient was administered a series of cognitive tests and self-report procedures assessing cognitive, functional, and neuropsychiatric status. Results: Overall, no discernable pattern of cognitive changes between pre-COVID and post-COVID assessments were noted. Only mild increases in agitation, depression, and irritability were noted on a self-report measure. However, this particular subject has relatively ideal psychosocial circumstances in comparison to the typical older adult Veteran male. It is hypothesized that improved psychosocial conditions will result in less negative cognitive and functional outcomes for older adults diagnosed with COVID-19. Conclusion: High levels of resilience, social support, and exercise, coupled with lower levels of perceived stress and loneliness may serve as protective factors against cognitive and functional decline in older adults who contract COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronald Okolichany
- Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center(GRECC), Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, North LittleRock, AR, USA
| | - Prasad Padala
- Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center(GRECC), Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, North LittleRock, AR, USA
| | - Scott Mooney
- Neuropsychology Service, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, North Little Rock, AR, USA
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19
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Rezvani AH, Cauley M, Levin ED. Time-dependent effects of nicotine on reversal of dizocilpine-induced attentional impairment in female rats. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2022; 215:173359. [PMID: 35216970 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2022.173359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Nicotine and nicotinic compounds have been found to attenuate the attentional impairments caused by the glutamate NMDA antagonist dizocilpine (MK-801). The timing of the nicotine effect on attention in rodents has not yet been determined. In the current study, we tested the interaction of dizocilpine with nicotine. Nicotine was given at a range of times (30 to 240 min) prior to dizocilpine administration and before testing on an operant signal detection task. Each rat was assessed with each dose timing. This protocol was repeated twice with one week between phases of testing. In the first phase, correct rejection performance was significantly impaired by 0.05 mg/kg of dizocilpine and this impairment was significantly attenuated by nicotine given sc 30-150 min prior to dizocilpine administration. The greater dizocilpine-induced percent correct rejection impairment seen during the first phase of drug challenge, was significantly attenuated by nicotine given 30 or 90 min before the start of the 1-h test session. During the second phase, the dizocilpine-induced repeated acquisition impairment was more modest. During this phase of testing nicotine administered 60, 90 or 150 min before testing significantly attenuated the dizocilpine-induced impairment. In both phases of testing, nicotine administration 240 min prior to testing was not seen to attenuate the dizocilpine-induced impairment. During the first phase but not the second phase, dizocilpine administration caused a significant impairment in percent hit. Nicotine was not found to have a significant effect in the second phase. Response omissions were significantly increased by dizocilpine during the first, but not the second phase. Nicotine was not found to have any significant effects on response omission. Overall, our data show that nicotine administration prior to dizocilpine administration was able to significantly improve dizocilpine-induced attentional impairment in a time-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir H Rezvani
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
| | - Marty Cauley
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Edward D Levin
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
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20
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Sultzer DL, Lim AC, Gordon HL, Yarns BC, Melrose RJ. Cholinergic receptor binding in unimpaired older adults, mild cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer's disease dementia. Alzheimers Res Ther 2022; 14:25. [PMID: 35130968 PMCID: PMC8819935 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-021-00954-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cholinergic neurotransmitter system dysfunction contributes to cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease and other syndromes. However, the specific cholinergic mechanisms and brain structures involved, time course of alterations, and relationships with specific cognitive deficits are not well understood. METHODS This study included 102 older adults: 42 cognitively unimpaired (CU), 28 with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 32 with Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia. Each participant underwent a neuropsychological assessment. Regional brain α4β2 nicotinic cholinergic receptor binding (VT/fp) was measured using 2-[18F]fluoro-3-(2(S)azetidinylmethoxy)pyridine (2FA) and PET imaging. Voxel-wise analyses of group differences were performed. Relationships between receptor binding and cognition, age, and cholinesterase inhibitor medication use were assessed using binding values in six prespecified regions of interest. RESULTS SPM analysis showed the group VT/fp binding differences in the bilateral entorhinal cortex, hippocampus, insula, anterior cingulate, thalamus, and basal ganglia (p < .05, FWE-corrected). Pairwise comparisons revealed lower binding in the AD group compared to the CU group in similar regions. Binding in the entorhinal cortex was lower in the MCI group than in the CU group; binding in the hippocampus was lower in the AD group than in the MCI group. AD participants taking cholinesterase inhibitor medication had lower 2FA binding in the bilateral hippocampus and thalamus compared to those not taking medication. In the CU group, age was negatively associated with 2FA binding in each region of interest (rs = - .33 to - .59, p < .05 for each, uncorrected). Attention, immediate recall, and delayed recall scores were inversely associated with 2FA binding in most regions across the full sample. In the combined group of CU and MCI participants, attention was inversely associated with 2FA binding in most regions, beyond the effect of hippocampal volume. CONCLUSIONS Nicotinic cholinergic receptor binding in specific limbic and subcortical regions is lower in MCI and further reduced in AD dementia, compared to CU older adults, and is related to cognitive deficits. Cognitive decline with age may be a consequence of reduced cholinergic receptor density or binding affinity that may also promote vulnerability to other Alzheimer's processes. Contemporary modification of the "cholinergic deficit" of aging and AD may reveal opportunities to prevent or improve clinical symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- David L. Sultzer
- grid.417119.b0000 0001 0384 5381Psychiatry/Mental Health Service, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA USA ,grid.266093.80000 0001 0668 7243Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, School of Medicine, and Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders (UCI MIND), University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA USA
| | - Aaron C. Lim
- grid.417119.b0000 0001 0384 5381Psychiatry/Mental Health Service, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA USA ,grid.42505.360000 0001 2156 6853Department of Family Medicine, USC Keck School of Medicine, Alhambra, CA USA
| | - Hailey L. Gordon
- grid.417119.b0000 0001 0384 5381Psychiatry/Mental Health Service, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA USA ,grid.147455.60000 0001 2097 0344Biomedical Engineering Department, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA USA
| | - Brandon C. Yarns
- grid.417119.b0000 0001 0384 5381Psychiatry/Mental Health Service, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA USA ,grid.19006.3e0000 0000 9632 6718Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA USA
| | - Rebecca J. Melrose
- grid.417119.b0000 0001 0384 5381Psychiatry/Mental Health Service, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA USA ,grid.19006.3e0000 0000 9632 6718Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA USA
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Apolipoprotein (a)/Lipoprotein(a)-Induced Oxidative-Inflammatory α7-nAChR/p38 MAPK/IL-6/RhoA-GTP Signaling Axis and M1 Macrophage Polarization Modulate Inflammation-Associated Development of Coronary Artery Spasm. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2022; 2022:9964689. [PMID: 35096275 PMCID: PMC8793348 DOI: 10.1155/2022/9964689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Objective. Apolipoprotein (a)/lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)), a major carrier of oxidized phospholipids, and α7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7-nAChR) may play an important role in the development of coronary artery spasm (CAS). In CAS, the association between Lp(a) and the α7-nAChR-modulated inflammatory macrophage polarization and activation and smooth muscle cell dysfunction remains unknown. Methods. We investigated the relevance of Lp(a)/α7-nAChR signaling in patient monocyte-derived macrophages and human coronary artery smooth muscle cells (HCASMCs) using expression profile correlation analyses, fluorescence-assisted cell sorting flow cytometry, immunoblotting, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and clinicopathological analyses. Results. There are increased serum Lp(a) levels (3.98-fold,
) and macrophage population (3.30-fold,
) in patients with CAS compared with patients without CAS. Serum Lp(a) level was positively correlated with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (
,
), IL-6 (
,
), and α7-nAChR (
,
) in patients with CAS, but not in patients without CAS. Compared with untreated or low-density lipoprotein- (LDL-) treated macrophages, Lp(a)-treated macrophages exhibited markedly enhanced α7-nAChR mRNA expression (
) and activity (
), in vitro and ex vivo. Lp(a) but not LDL preferentially induced CD80+ macrophage (M1) polarization and reduced the inducible nitric oxide synthase expression and the subsequent NO production. While shRNA-mediated loss of α7-nAChR function reduced the Lp(a)-induced CD80+ macrophage pool, both shRNA and anti-IL-6 receptor tocilizumab suppressed Lp(a)-upregulated α7-nAChR, p-p38 MAPK, IL-6, and RhoA-GTP protein expression levels in cultures of patient monocyte-derived macrophages and HCASMCs. Conclusions. Elevated Lp(a) levels upregulate α7-nAChR/IL-6/p38 MAPK signaling in macrophages of CAS patients and HCASMC, suggesting that Lp(a)-triggered inflammation mediates CAS through α7-nAChR/p38 MAPK/IL-6/RhoA-GTP signaling induction, macrophage M1 polarization, and HCASMC activation.
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22
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Rao RK, McConnell DD, Litofsky NS. The impact of cigarette smoking and nicotine on traumatic brain injury: a review. Brain Inj 2022; 36:1-20. [PMID: 35138210 DOI: 10.1080/02699052.2022.2034186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and tobacco smoking are both serious public health problems. Many people with TBI also smoke. Nicotine, a component of tobacco smoke, has been identified as a premorbid neuroprotectant in other neurological disorders. This study aims to provide better understanding of relationships between tobacco smoking and nicotine use and effect on outcome/recovery from TBI. METHODS PubMed database, SCOPUS, and PTSDpub were searched for relevant English-language papers. RESULTS Twenty-nine human clinical studies and nine animal studies were included. No nicotine-replacement product use in human TBI clinical studies were identified. While smoking tobacco prior to injury can be harmful primarily due to systemic effects that can compromise brain function, animal studies suggest that nicotine as a pharmacological agent may augment recovery of cognitive deficits caused by TBI. CONCLUSIONS While tobacco smoking before or after TBI has been associated with potential harms, many clinical studies downplay correlations for most expected domains. On the other hand, nicotine could provide potential treatment for cognitive deficits following TBI by reversing impaired signaling pathways in the brain including those involving nAChRs, TH, and dopamine. Future studies regarding the impact of cigarette smoking and vaping on patients with TBI are needed .
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Affiliation(s)
- Rohan K Rao
- Division of Neurological Surgery, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Diane D McConnell
- Division of Neurological Surgery, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - N Scott Litofsky
- Division of Neurological Surgery, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri, USA
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23
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Eickhoff S, Franzen L, Korda A, Rogg H, Trulley VN, Borgwardt S, Avram M. The Basal Forebrain Cholinergic Nuclei and Their Relevance to Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:909961. [PMID: 35873225 PMCID: PMC9299093 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.909961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The basal forebrain cholinergic nuclei (BFCN) provide the main cholinergic input to prefrontal cortices, the hippocampi, and amygdala. These structures are highly relevant for the regulation and maintenance of many cognitive functions, such as attention and memory. In vivo neuroimaging studies reported alterations of the cholinergic system in psychotic disorders. Particularly, a downregulation of nicotinic and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors has been found. Crucially, such alterations in neurotransmission have been associated with cognitive impairments and positive and negative symptoms. Recent pharmacological studies support these findings, as they demonstrated an association between the manipulation of cholinergic transmission and an attenuation in symptom severity. Targeting acetylcholine receptors has therefore become a focus for the development of novel psychopharmacological drugs. However, many open questions remain. For instance, it remains elusive what causes such alterations in neurotransmission. While evidence supports the idea that BFCN structural integrity is altered in schizophrenia, it remains to be determined whether this is also present in other psychotic disorders. Furthermore, it is unclear when throughout the course of the disorder these alterations make their appearance and whether they reflect changes in the BFCN alone or rather aberrant interactions between the BFCN and other brain areas. In this review, the specific role of the BFCN and their projections are discussed from a neuroimaging perspective and with a focus on psychotic disorders alongside future directions. These directions set the stage for the development of new treatment targets for psychotic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Eickhoff
- Translational Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Leon Franzen
- Translational Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Alexandra Korda
- Translational Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Helena Rogg
- Translational Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Valerie-Noelle Trulley
- Translational Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Stefan Borgwardt
- Translational Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Mihai Avram
- Translational Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
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Soleimani Zakeri NS, Pashazadeh S, MotieGhader H. Drug Repurposing for Alzheimer's Disease Based on Protein-Protein Interaction Network. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 2021:1280237. [PMID: 34692825 PMCID: PMC8531773 DOI: 10.1155/2021/1280237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2021] [Revised: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is known as a critical neurodegenerative disorder. It worsens as symptoms concerning dementia grow severe over the years. Due to the globalization of Alzheimer's disease, its prevention and treatment are vital. This study proposes a method to extract substantial gene complexes and then introduces potential drugs in Alzheimer's disease. To this end, a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was utilized to extract five meaningful gene complexes functionally interconnected. An enrichment analysis to introduce the most important biological processes and pathways was accomplished on the obtained genes. The next step is extracting the drugs related to AD and introducing some new drugs which may be helpful for this disease. Finally, a complete network including all the genes associated with each gene complex group and genes' target drug was illustrated. For validating the proposed potential drugs, Connectivity Map (CMAP) analysis was accomplished to determine target genes that are up- or downregulated by proposed drugs. Medical studies and publications were analyzed thoroughly to introduce AD-related drugs. This analysis proves the accuracy of the proposed method in this study. Then, new drugs were introduced that can be experimentally examined as future work. Raloxifene and gentian violet are two new drugs, which have not been introduced as AD-related drugs in previous scientific and medical studies, recommended by the method of this study. Besides the primary goal, five bipartite networks representing the genes of each group and their target miRNAs were constructed to introduce target miRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Negar Sadat Soleimani Zakeri
- Department of Computer Engineering, Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Saeid Pashazadeh
- Department of Information Technology, Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Habib MotieGhader
- Department of Computer Engineering, Gowgan Educational Center, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran
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25
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Dobric A, De Luca SN, Spencer SJ, Bozinovski S, Saling MM, McDonald CF, Vlahos R. Novel pharmacological strategies to treat cognitive dysfunction in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Pharmacol Ther 2021; 233:108017. [PMID: 34626675 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2021.108017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 09/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major incurable global health burden and currently the 3rd largest cause of death in the world, with approximately 3.23 million deaths per year. Globally, the financial burden of COPD is approximately €82 billion per year and causes substantial morbidity and mortality. Importantly, much of the disease burden and health care utilisation in COPD is associated with the management of its comorbidities and viral and bacterial-induced acute exacerbations (AECOPD). Recent clinical studies have shown that cognitive dysfunction is present in up to 60% of people with COPD, with impairments in executive function, memory, and attention, impacting on important outcomes such as quality of life, hospitalisation and survival. The high prevalence of cognitive dysfunction in COPD may also help explain the insufficient adherence to therapeutic plans and strategies, thus worsening disease progression in people with COPD. However, the mechanisms underlying the impaired neuropathology and cognition in COPD remain largely unknown. In this review, we propose that the observed pulmonary oxidative burden and inflammatory response of people with COPD 'spills over' into the systemic circulation, resulting in damage to the brain and leading to cognitive dysfunction. As such, drugs targeting the lungs and comorbidities concurrently represent an exciting and unique therapeutic opportunity to treat COPD and cognitive impairments, which may lead to the production of novel targets to prevent and reverse the debilitating and life-threatening effects of cognitive dysfunction in COPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandar Dobric
- School of Health & Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Simone N De Luca
- School of Health & Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Sarah J Spencer
- School of Health & Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale Biophotonics, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Steven Bozinovski
- School of Health & Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Michael M Saling
- Clinical Neuropsychology, The University of Melbourne and Austin Health, VIC, Australia
| | - Christine F McDonald
- Institute for Breathing and Sleep, Austin Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Respiratory & Sleep Medicine, The University of Melbourne and Austin Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Ross Vlahos
- School of Health & Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
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Angelopoulou E, Paudel YN, Papageorgiou SG, Piperi C. APOE Genotype and Alzheimer's Disease: The Influence of Lifestyle and Environmental Factors. ACS Chem Neurosci 2021; 12:2749-2764. [PMID: 34275270 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.1c00295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder with obscure pathogenesis and no disease-modifying therapy to date. AD is multifactorial disease that develops from the complex interplay of genetic factors and environmental exposures. The E4 allele of the gene encoding apolipoprotein E (APOE) is the most common genetic risk factor for AD, whereas the E2 allele acts in a protective manner. A growing amount of epidemiological evidence suggests that several lifestyle habits and environmental factors may interact with APOE alleles to synergistically affect the risk of AD development. Among them, physical exercise, dietary habits including fat intake and ketogenic diet, higher education, traumatic brain injury, cigarette smoking, coffee consumption, alcohol intake, and exposure to pesticides and sunlight have gained increasing attention. Although the current evidence is inconsistent, it seems that younger APOE4 carriers in preclinical stages may benefit mostly from preventive lifestyle interventions, whereas older APOE4 noncarriers with dementia may show the most pronounced effects. The large discrepancies between the epidemiological studies may be attributed to differences in the sample sizes, the demographic characteristics of the participants, including age and sex, the methodological design, and potential related exposures and comorbidities as possible cofounding factors. In this Review, we aim to discuss available evidence of the prominent APOE genotype-environment interactions in regard to cognitive decline with a focus on AD, providing an overview of the current landscape in this field and suggesting future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Efthalia Angelopoulou
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
- Department of Neurology, Eginition University Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11528 Athens, Greece
| | - Yam Nath Paudel
- Neuropharmacology Research Laboratory, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, 47500 Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Sokratis G. Papageorgiou
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Christina Piperi
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
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Majdi A, Sadigh‐Eteghad S, Gjedde A. Effects of transdermal nicotine delivery on cognitive outcomes: A meta-analysis. Acta Neurol Scand 2021; 144:179-191. [PMID: 33899218 DOI: 10.1111/ane.13436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE By the association of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the brain, nicotine in the therapeutic window lowers neuronal damage and raises protective factors. These data, however, are contradicted by other findings. Here, we assessed the effects of transdermal nicotine administration on cognitive functions in healthy non-smoker adults by systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials. METHODS We included reports of clinical trials comparing the effects of nicotine patches with placebo in healthy non-smoking adults. The main outcome was the impact of nicotine patches on overall cognitive function with a focus on attention and memory. Standard meta-analytic and statistical methods measured the effect of transdermal nicotine compared with placebo patches. RESULTS We included 31 publications involving 978 subjects. Nicotine patches boosted cognitive function in healthy adults (0.233 SMD, 95%CI, 0.111-0.355, p < .001). Overall heterogeneity of the studies was found to be modest (ϰ2 = 68.24, T2 = 0.07, I2 = 50.17%, p < .001). Also, nicotine patches improved attention (0.231 SMD, 95%CI, 0.106-0.356, p < .001). We found the inter-study heterogeneity to be low (ϰ2 = 40.95, T2 = 0.03, I2 = 34.07%, p = .042). Further, the enhancement of memory by transdermal nicotine did not reach statistical significance in normal subjects (0.270 SMD, 95% CI, -0.293-0.833, p = .347). Also, high inter-study heterogeneity was found among studies (ϰ2 = 27.25, T2 = 0.43, I2 = 77.98%, p < .001). CONCLUSION The meta-analysis showed that transdermal nicotine had statistically significant positive effects on attention, and non-significant effects on memory, in healthy non-smoking adults. The results encourage further studies of the therapeutic potential of nicotine patches in disorders of cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Majdi
- Neurosciences Research Center Tabriz University of Medical Sciences Tabriz Iran
| | | | - Albert Gjedde
- Neurosciences Research Center Tabriz University of Medical Sciences Tabriz Iran
- Department of Clinical Research Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit Aarhus University Aarhus Denmark
- Department of Neuroscience University of Copenhagen Copenhagen Denmark
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery McGill University Montreal QC Canada
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Dautzenberg B, Levi A, Adler M, Gaillard R. Transdermal nicotine in non-smokers: A systematic review to design COVID-19 clinical trials. Respir Med Res 2021; 80:100844. [PMID: 34153704 PMCID: PMC8183099 DOI: 10.1016/j.resmer.2021.100844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2020] [Revised: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Recent data show an interaction between COVID-19 and nicotine and indicate the need for an assessment of transdermal nicotine use in non-smokers. Assessments have been conducted into the short-term cognitive effects of nicotine and into diseases such as Parkinson's, Tourette syndrome, ADHD or ulcerative colitis. METHODS Analyses of nicotine administration protocols and safety were conducted after reviewing Medline and Science Direct databases performing a search using the words [transdermal nicotine] AND [non-smoker] AND selected diseases. RESULTS Among 298 articles identified, there were 35 reviewed publications reporting on 33 studies of non-smokers receiving transdermal nicotine for >48hours. In the 16 randomized trials, 7 crossover, 1 case/control and 9 open studies patients received an initial nicotine dose of between 2.5mg and 15mg/day. In 22 studies, daily doses increased by 2 to 7 steps in 3 to 96 days until the dose was between 5mg and 105mg/day. The target nicotine dose was 19.06±20.89mg/day. The 987 non-smokers (534 never-smokers, 326 ex-smokers and 127 classified as "non-smokers") received or did not receive nicotine. The most common side-effects were nausea and skin itching. Forty-three (7.1%) non-smokers stopped treatment because of an adverse event of nicotine. No hospitalization related to nicotine side-effects were reported. CONCLUSION Despite a relatively safe tolerance profile, transdermal nicotine therapy in non-smokers can only be used in clinical trials. There is a lack of formal assessment of the potential risk of developing a tobacco addiction. This review offers baseline data to set a transdermal nicotine protocol for non-smokers with a new purpose.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Dautzenberg
- APHP Sorbonne University, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, 75013 Paris, France; Institut Arthur Vernes, Smoking Cessation Unit, 75006 Paris, France.
| | - A Levi
- Department of Psychiatry, Service Hospitalo-Universitaire, GHU Paris Psychiatrie & Neurosciences, 75014 Paris, France
| | - M Adler
- Smoking Cessation Unit, Hôpital Antoine, Béclère APHP, 92140 Clamart, France
| | - R Gaillard
- Department of Psychiatry, Service Hospitalo-Universitaire, GHU Paris Psychiatrie & Neurosciences, 75014 Paris, France; Université de Paris, 75006 Paris, France; Unité de Neuropathologie expérimentale, Département Santé Globale, Institut Pasteur, 75015 Paris, France
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Alhowail A. Molecular insights into the benefits of nicotine on memory and cognition (Review). Mol Med Rep 2021; 23:398. [PMID: 33786606 PMCID: PMC8025477 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2021.12037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The health risks of nicotine are well known, but there is some evidence of its beneficial effects on cognitive function. The present review focused on the reported benefits of nicotine in the brain and summarizes the associated underlying mechanisms. Nicotine administration can improve cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease (AD), and dyskinesia and memory impairment in Parkinson's disease (PD). In terms of its mechanism of action, nicotine slows the progression of PD by inhibiting Sirtuin 6, a stress‑responsive protein deacetylase, thereby decreasing neuronal apoptosis and improving neuronal survival. In AD, nicotine improves cognitive impairment by enhancing protein kinase B (also referred to as Akt) activity and stimulating phosphoinositide 3‑kinase/Akt signaling, which regulates learning and memory processes. Nicotine may also activate thyroid receptor signaling pathways to improve memory impairment caused by hypothyroidism. In healthy individuals, nicotine improves memory impairment caused by sleep deprivation by enhancing the phosphorylation of calmodulin‑dependent protein kinase II, an essential regulator of cell proliferation and synaptic plasticity. Furthermore, nicotine may improve memory function through its effect on chromatin modification via the inhibition of histone deacetylases, which causes transcriptional changes in memory‑related genes. Finally, nicotine administration has been demonstrated to rescue long‑term potentiation in individuals with sleep deprivation, AD, chronic stress and hypothyroidism, primarily by desensitizing α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. To conclude, nicotine has several cognitive benefits in healthy individuals, as well as in those with cognitive dysfunction associated with various diseases. However, further research is required to shed light on the effect of acute and chronic nicotine treatment on memory function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Alhowail
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Buraydah 52571, Qassim, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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30
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Abstract
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) play a critical role in the neuropharmacology of learning and memory. As such, naturally occurring alkaloids that regulate nAChR activity have gained interest for understanding and potentially improving memory function. In this study, we tested the acute effects of three known nicotinic alkaloids, nicotine, cotinine, and anatabine, in suppressing scopolamine-induced memory deficit in rodents by using two classic memory paradigms, Y-maze and novel object recognition (NOR) in mice and rats, respectively. We found that all compounds were able to suppress scopolamine-induced spatial memory deficit in the Y-maze spontaneous alternation paradigm. However, only nicotine was able to suppress the short-term object memory deficit in NOR, despite the higher doses of cotinine and anatabine used to account for their potential differences in nAChR activity. These results indicate that cotinine and anatabine can uniquely regulate short-term spatial memory, while nicotine seems to have more robust and general role in memory regulation in rodents. Thus, nAChR-activating alkaloids may possess distinct procognitive properties in rodents, depending on the memory types examined.
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Nop O, Senft Miller A, Culver H, Makarewicz J, Dumas JA. Nicotine and Cognition in Cognitively Normal Older Adults. Front Aging Neurosci 2021; 13:640674. [PMID: 34025390 PMCID: PMC8131527 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.640674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The cholinergic system has been shown to be the primary neurotransmitter system which is responsible for the cognitive symptoms associated with dementia; its role in healthy non-demented older adults remains a gap in the literature. Understanding the effects of age-related functional changes on the nicotinic system will address this knowledge gap. As the older adult population grows and hence the importance of understanding cognitive changes that impact functional abilities and everyday life. In this article we examine the benefits of using nicotine as a method for improving cognition in non-demented healthy older adults which may have the potential for slowing neurodegeneration in aging. Furthermore, we discuss how nicotine can play a crucial role in maintaining cognitive abilities throughout normal cognitive aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Nop
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States
| | - Anna Senft Miller
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States
| | - Hannah Culver
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States
| | - Jenna Makarewicz
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States
| | - Julie A Dumas
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States
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Arora K, Bhagianadh D. Smoking and Alcohol Consumption Following a New Dementia Diagnosis. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2021; 76:745-755. [PMID: 31587074 DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbz127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Despite extensive research on lifestyle factors that influence the risk of developing dementia, limited evidence exists on whether older adults adopt healthier habits post-diagnosis in the hope of preserving their quality of life. METHOD Using panel data (1998-2014) from the Health and Retirement Study, this study investigated whether individuals who received a new dementia diagnosis were more likely to modify smoking and drinking behaviors than those without such a diagnosis. Propensity score weighting was used to adjust for observable differences between groups. RESULTS Older adults with a new dementia diagnosis were 2.8 times more likely to reduce alcohol consumption than those without such a diagnosis. This result was mainly attributable to "light" drinkers at baseline and appeared to fade over time. We found no statistically significant effect of a dementia diagnosis on smoking cessation or on reduction in the number of cigarettes smoked. These results were robust to multiple sensitivity tests, including the use of cognition scores to indicate dementia onset instead of self-reported physician diagnosis. DISCUSSION A new dementia diagnosis can serve as a window of opportunity that prompts some older adults to change habits related to alcohol consumption. This has important implications for clinical practice surrounding dementia diagnosis disclosure, the rates of which are currently much lower than other medical conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanika Arora
- Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Iowa
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Farsalinos K, Bagos PG, Giannouchos T, Niaura R, Barbouni A, Poulas K. Smoking prevalence among hospitalized COVID-19 patients and its association with disease severity and mortality: an expanded re-analysis of a recent publication. Harm Reduct J 2021; 18:9. [PMID: 33453726 PMCID: PMC7811344 DOI: 10.1186/s12954-020-00437-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a lot of debate about the effects of smoking on COVID-19. A recent fixed-effects meta-analysis found smoking to be associated with disease severity among hospitalized patients, but other studies report an unusually low prevalence of smoking among hospitalized patients. The purpose of this study was to expand the analysis by calculating the prevalence odds ratio (POR) of smoking among hospitalized COVID-19 patients, while the association between smoking and disease severity and mortality was examined by random-effects meta-analyses considering the highly heterogeneous study populations. METHODS The same studies as examined in the previous meta-analysis were analyzed (N = 22, 20 studies from China and 2 from USA). The POR relative to the expected smoking prevalence was calculated using gender and age-adjusted population smoking rates. Random-effects meta-analyses were used for all other associations. RESULTS A total of 7162 patients were included, with 482 being smokers. The POR was 0.24 (95%CI 0.19-0.30). Unlike the original study, the association between smoking and disease severity was not statistically significant using random-effects meta-analysis (OR 1.40, 95%CI 0.98-1.98). In agreement with the original study, no statistically significant association was found between smoking and mortality (OR 1.86, 95%CI 0.88-3.94). CONCLUSION An unusually low prevalence of smoking, approximately 1/4th the expected prevalence, was observed among hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Any association between smoking and COVID-19 severity cannot be generalized but should refer to the seemingly low proportion of smokers who develop severe COVID-19 that requires hospitalization. Smokers should be advised to quit due to long-term health risks, but pharmaceutical nicotine or other nicotinic cholinergic agonists should be explored as potential therapeutic options, based on a recently presented hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantinos Farsalinos
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Immunology, Department of Pharmacy, University of Patras, 26500, Rio-Patras, Greece.
- School of Public Health, University of West Attica, Leoforos Alexandras 196A, 11521, Athens, Greece.
| | - Pantelis G Bagos
- Department of Computer Science and Biomedical Informatics, University of Thessaly, 35100, Lamia, Greece
| | - Theodoros Giannouchos
- Pharmacotherapy Outcomes Research Center, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA
- Laboratory of Health Economics and Management, Economics Department, University of Piraeus, Piraeus, Greece
| | - Raymond Niaura
- Departments of Social and Behavioral Science and Epidemiology, College of Global Public Health, New York University, New York City, USA
| | - Anastasia Barbouni
- School of Public Health, University of West Attica, Leoforos Alexandras 196A, 11521, Athens, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Poulas
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Immunology, Department of Pharmacy, University of Patras, 26500, Rio-Patras, Greece
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Preventing dementia? Interventional approaches in mild cognitive impairment. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 122:143-164. [PMID: 33440197 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.12.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Revised: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 12/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is defined as an intermediate state between normal cognitive aging and dementia. It describes a status of the subjective impression of cognitive decline and objectively detectible memory impairment beyond normal age-related changes. Activities of daily living are not affected. As the population ages, there is a growing need for early, proactive programs that can delay the consequences of dementia and improve the well-being of people with MCI and their caregivers. Various forms and approaches of intervention for older people with MCI have been suggested to delay cognitive decline. Pharmacological as well as non-pharmacological approaches (cognitive, physiological, nutritional supplementation, electric stimulation, psychosocial therapeutic) and multicomponent interventions have been proposed. Interventional approaches in MCI from 2009 to April 2019 concerning the cognitive performance are presented in this review.
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35
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Conley AC, Key AP, Taylor WD, Albert KM, Boyd BD, Vega JN, Newhouse PA. EEG as a Functional Marker of Nicotine Activity: Evidence From a Pilot Study of Adults With Late-Life Depression. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:721874. [PMID: 35002791 PMCID: PMC8732868 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.721874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Late-life depression (LLD) is a debilitating condition that is associated with poor response to antidepressant medications and deficits in cognitive performance. Nicotinic cholinergic stimulation has emerged as a potentially effective candidate to improve cognitive performance in patients with cognitive impairment. Previous studies of nicotinic stimulation in animal models and human populations with cognitive impairment led to examining potential cognitive and mood effects of nicotinic stimulation in older adults with LLD. We report results from a pilot study of transdermal nicotine in LLD testing whether nicotine treatment would enhance cognitive performance and mood. The study used electroencephalography (EEG) recordings as a tool to test for potential mechanisms underlying the effect of nicotine. Eight non-smoking participants with LLD completed EEG recordings at baseline and after 12 weeks of transdermal nicotine treatment (NCT02816138). Nicotine augmentation treatment was associated with improved performance on an auditory oddball task. Analysis of event-related oscillations showed that nicotine treatment was associated with reduced beta desynchronization at week 12 for both standard and target trials. The change in beta power on standard trials was also correlated with improvement in mood symptoms. This pilot study provides preliminary evidence for the impact of nicotine in modulating cortical activity and improving mood in depressed older adults and shows the utility of using EEG as a marker of functional engagement in nicotinic interventions in clinical geriatric patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander C Conley
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Cognitive Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Alexandra P Key
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Cognitive Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States.,Vanderbilt Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Warren D Taylor
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Cognitive Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States.,Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Kimberly M Albert
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Cognitive Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Brian D Boyd
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Cognitive Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Jennifer N Vega
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Cognitive Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Paul A Newhouse
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Cognitive Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States.,Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, TN, United States
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Wadhwa R, Paudel KR, Mehta M, Shukla SD, Sunkara K, Prasher P, Panth N, Goyal R, Chellappan DK, Gupta G, Hansbro PM, Aljabali AAA, Tambuwala MM, Dua K. Beyond the Obvious: Smoking and Respiratory Infection Implications on Alzheimer's Disease. CNS & NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS-DRUG TARGETS 2020; 19:698-708. [PMID: 33109069 DOI: 10.2174/1871527319999200817112427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2019] [Revised: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Tobacco smoke is not only a leading cause for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disorders, and lung and oral cancers, but also causes neurological disorders such as Alzheimer 's disease. Tobacco smoke consists of more than 4500 toxic chemicals, which form free radicals and can cross blood-brain barrier resulting in oxidative stress, an extracellular amyloid plaque from the aggregation of amyloid β (Aβ) peptide deposition in the brain. Further, respiratory infections such as Chlamydia pneumoniae, respiratory syncytial virus have also been involved in the induction and development of the disease. The necessary information collated on this review has been gathered from various literature published from 1995 to 2019. The review article sheds light on the role of smoking and respiratory infections in causing oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, resulting in Alzheimer's disease (AD). This review will be of interest to scientists and researchers from biological and medical science disciplines, including microbiology, pharmaceutical sciences and the translational researchers, etc. The increasing understanding of the relationship between chronic lung disease and neurological disease is two-fold. First, this would help to identify the risk factors and possible therapeutic interventions to reduce the development and progression of both diseases. Second, this would help to reduce the probable risk of development of AD in the population prone to chronic lung diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ridhima Wadhwa
- Discipline of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Keshav Raj Paudel
- Centre for Inflammation, Centenary Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Meenu Mehta
- Discipline of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Shakti D Shukla
- Priority Research Centre for Healthy Lungs, Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) & School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
| | - Krishna Sunkara
- Discipline of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Parteek Prasher
- Department of Chemistry, University of Petroleum & Energy Studies, Dehradun 248007, India
| | - Nisha Panth
- Centre for Inflammation, Centenary Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Rohit Goyal
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shoolini University, Bajhol, Sultanpur, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, 173 229, India
| | - Dinesh Kumar Chellappan
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur 57000, Malaysia
| | - Gaurav Gupta
- School of Phamacy, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jagatpura, Mahal Road, Jaipur, India
| | - Philip M Hansbro
- Centre for Inflammation, Centenary Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Alaa A A Aljabali
- Yarmouk University, Irbid 21163, Jordan, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Irbid 21163, Jordan
| | - Murtaza M Tambuwala
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, County, Londonderry, BT52 1SA, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
| | - Kamal Dua
- Discipline of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo NSW 2007, Australia
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Chang L, Liang H, Kandel SR, He JJ. Independent and Combined Effects of Nicotine or Chronic Tobacco Smoking and HIV on the Brain: A Review of Preclinical and Clinical Studies. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol 2020; 15:658-693. [PMID: 33108618 DOI: 10.1007/s11481-020-09963-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Tobacco smoking is highly prevalent among HIV-infected individuals. Chronic smokers with HIV showed greater cognitive deficits and impulsivity, and had more psychopathological symptoms and greater neuroinflammation than HIV non-smokers or smokers without HIV infection. However, preclinical studies that evaluated the combined effects of HIV-infection and tobacco smoking are scare. The preclinical models typically used cell cultures or animal models that involved specific HIV viral proteins or the administration of nicotine to rodents. These preclinical models consistently demonstrated that nicotine had neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects, leading to cognitive enhancement. Although the major addictive ingredient in tobacco smoking is nicotine, chronic smoking does not lead to improved cognitive function in humans. Therefore, preclinical studies designed to unravel the interactive effects of chronic tobacco smoking and HIV infection are needed. In this review, we summarized the preclinical studies that demonstrated the neuroprotective effects of nicotine, the neurotoxic effects of the HIV viral proteins, and the scant literature on nicotine or tobacco smoke in HIV transgenic rat models. We also reviewed the clinical studies that evaluated the neurotoxic effects of tobacco smoking, HIV infection and their combined effects on the brain, including studies that evaluated the cognitive and behavioral assessments, as well as neuroimaging measures. Lastly, we compared the different approaches between preclinical and clinical studies, identified some gaps and proposed some future directions. Graphical abstract Independent and combined effects of HIV and tobacco/nicotine. Left top and bottom panels: Both clinical studies of HIV infected persons and preclinical studies using viral proteins in vitro or in vivo in animal models showed that HIV infection could lead to neurotoxicity and neuroinflammation. Right top and bottom panels: While clinical studies of tobacco smoking consistently showed deleterious effects of smoking, clinical and preclinical studies that used nicotine show mild cognitive enhancement, neuroprotective and possibly anti-inflammatory effects. In the developing brain, however, nicotine is neurotoxic. Middle overlapping panels: Clinical studies of persons with HIV who were smokers typically showed additive deleterious effects of HIV and tobacco smoking. However, in the preclinical studies, when nicotine was administered to the HIV-1 Tg rats, the neurotoxic effects of HIV were attenuated, but tobacco smoke worsened the inflammatory cascade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Chang
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 670 W. Baltimore Street, HSF III, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
- Department of Neurology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Department of Medicine, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, USA.
| | - Huajun Liang
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 670 W. Baltimore Street, HSF III, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Suresh R Kandel
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Chicago Medical School, Center for Cancer Cell Biology, Immunology and Infection, Rosalind Franklin University, 3333 Green Bay Road, Basic Science Building 2.300, North Chicago, IL, 60064, USA
| | - Johnny J He
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Chicago Medical School, Center for Cancer Cell Biology, Immunology and Infection, Rosalind Franklin University, 3333 Green Bay Road, Basic Science Building 2.300, North Chicago, IL, 60064, USA.
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C SK, Kumar SA, Wei H. Comparative docking studies to understand the binding affinity of nicotine with soluble ACE2 (sACE2)-SARS-CoV-2 complex over sACE2. Toxicol Rep 2020; 7:1366-1372. [PMID: 33052306 PMCID: PMC7543737 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2020.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 10/03/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The study aimed to validate the proficiency of nicotine binding with the soluble angiotensin-converting enzyme II receptor (sACE2) with or without SARS-CoV-2 in the context of its binding affinity. Modelled human sACE2 and the spike (S1) protein of Indian SARS-CoV-2 (INS1) docked with each other. On the other hand, nicotine docked with sACE2 in the presence or absence of SARS-CoV-2. Nicotine established a stable interaction with negatively charged Asp368 of sACE2, which in turn binds with amino acids like Thr362, Lys363, Thr365, Thr371, and Ala372. In the presence of nicotine, INS1 and sACE2 showed a reduced binding affinity score of -12.6 kcal/mol (Vs -15.7 kcal/mol without nicotine), and a lowered interface area of 1933.6 Å2 (Vs 2057.3Å2 without nicotine). The neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nN-AChR) and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor showed 19.85% sequence identity among themselves. Following these receptors possessed conserved Trp302 and Cys344 amino acids between them for nicotine binding. However, nicotine showed a higher binding affinity score of -6.33 kcal/mol for the sACE2-INS1 complex than the sACE2 alone with -5.24 kcal/mol. A lowered inhibitory constant value of 22.95μM recorded while nicotine interacted with the sACE2-INS1 complex over the sACE2 alone with 151.69 μM. In summary, nicotine showed a profound binding affinity for the sACE2-INS1 complex than the sACE2 alone paving for the clinical trials to validate its therapeutic efficacy as a bitter compound against the SARS-CoV-2 virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selvaa Kumar C
- School of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, D. Y. Patil Deemed to be University, Sector-15, CBD Belapur, Navi Mumbai, 400614, India
| | - Senthil Arun Kumar
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Genetics, Henan Children's Hospital (Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University), No-33, Longhu Waihuan East Road, Zhengzhou, 450018, China
| | - Haiyan Wei
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Genetics, Henan Children's Hospital (Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University), No-33, Longhu Waihuan East Road, Zhengzhou, 450018, China
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Kumar M, Adeluyi A, Anderson EL, Turner JR. Glial cells as therapeutic targets for smoking cessation. Neuropharmacology 2020; 175:108157. [PMID: 32461156 PMCID: PMC7791555 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Revised: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Smoking remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States, with less than 5% of smokers attempting to quit succeeding. This low smoking cessation success rate is thought to be due to the long-term adaptations and alterations in synaptic plasticity that occur following chronic nicotine exposure and withdrawal. Glial cells have recently emerged as active players in the development of dependence phenotypes due to their roles in modulating neuronal functions and synaptic plasticity. Fundamental studies have demonstrated that microglia and astrocytes are crucial for synapse formation and elimination in the developing brain, likely contributing to why glial dysfunction is implicated in numerous neurological and psychiatric disorders. Recently, there is increasing evidence for the involvement of glial cells in drug dependence and its associated behavioral manifestations. This review summarizes the newly evaluated role of microglia and astrocytes as molecular drivers of nicotine dependence and withdrawal phenotypes. This article is part of the special issue on 'Contemporary Advances in Nicotine Neuropharmacology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohit Kumar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy, Lexington, KY, USA.
| | - Adewale Adeluyi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy, Lexington, KY, USA; Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Disease, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Erin L Anderson
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, South Carolina College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, USA.
| | - Jill R Turner
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy, Lexington, KY, USA.
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40
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Harmych SJ, Kumar J, Bouni ME, Chadee DN. Nicotine inhibits MAPK signaling and spheroid invasion in ovarian cancer cells. Exp Cell Res 2020; 394:112167. [PMID: 32649943 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2020.112167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Revised: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Nicotine is the major addictive component of cigarette smoke and although it is not considered carcinogenic, it can enhance or inhibit cancer cell proliferation depending on the type of cancer. Nicotine mediates its effects through nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), which are expressed in many different neuronal and non-neuronal cell types. We observed that the nAChR α4, α5, α7 subunits were expressed in ovarian cancer (OC) cells. Nicotine inhibited the proliferation of SKOV3 and TOV112D OC cells, which have TP53 mutation and wild-type KRAS, but did not inhibit the proliferation of TOV21G or HEY OC cells, which have KRAS mutation and wild-type TP53. Exposure to nicotine for 96 h led to a significant reduction in the amounts of activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and activated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in SKOV3 cells, and in activated ERK in TOV112D cells. In addition, SKOV3 and TOV112D invasion and spheroid formation were substantially inhibited by siRNA knockdown of mixed lineage kinase 3 (MLK3), or MEK inhibition. Nicotine treatment reduced SKOV3 and TOV112D spheroid invasion and compaction but did not significantly affect spheroid formation. Furthermore, SKOV3 spheroid invasion was blocked by p38 inhibition with SB202190, but not by MEK inhibition with U0126; whereas TOV112D spheroid invasion was reduced by MEK inhibition, but not by p38 inhibition. These results indicate that nicotine can suppress spheroid invasion and compaction as well as proliferation in SKOV3 and TOV112D OC cells; and p38 and ERK MAPK signaling pathways are important mediators of these responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J Harmych
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toledo, 2801 West Bancroft Street, MS601, Toledo, OH, 43606, USA
| | - Jay Kumar
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toledo, 2801 West Bancroft Street, MS601, Toledo, OH, 43606, USA
| | - Mesa E Bouni
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toledo, 2801 West Bancroft Street, MS601, Toledo, OH, 43606, USA
| | - Deborah N Chadee
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toledo, 2801 West Bancroft Street, MS601, Toledo, OH, 43606, USA.
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41
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Sadigh-Eteghad S, Vatandoust SM, Mahmoudi J, Rahigh Aghsan S, Majdi A. Cotinine ameliorates memory and learning impairment in senescent mice. Brain Res Bull 2020; 164:65-74. [PMID: 32818583 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2020.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2020] [Revised: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to assess the effects of cotinine on age-induced memory and learning impairment and related downstream pathways in mice. Thirty aged (18-month old) and 10 young mice (8-week old) were randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 10 each) and subjected to cotinine at 5 mg/kg dose and/or methyllycaconitine (MLA) at 1 mg/kg, i.p. dose (α7 nAChRs antagonist) for 4 weeks. Morris water maze (MWM) and novel object recognition (NOR) tasks were used to assess spatial and recognition learning and memories of the mice, respectively. Levels of oxidative stress, apoptosis, neuroinflammation, and structural synaptic plasticity, and also neurotrophic factors and α7 nAChRs were assessed in the hippocampus using either ELISA or Western blotting. Aging was associated with learning and memory disabilities and dysregulation of the assessed pathways in the hippocampus of mice. Chronic cotinine treatment improved learning and memory in aged animals, indicated by decreased latency time, and increased time spent in the target quadrant and discrimination index (DI) in the MWM and NOR tasks. Also, chronic cotinine injection increased total antioxidant capacity (TAC), SOD and GSH-px activity, PSD-95, GAP-43, SYN, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and neural growth factor levels and decreased malondialdehyde, TNF-α, and IL-1β in the hippocampus of aged mice. Conversely, MLA treatment reversed most of the mentioned effects via the blockade of α7 nAChRs. Cotinine improves age-induced memory and learning impairment via its modulatory effects on α7 nAChRs and subsequent activation/deactivation of the mentioned pathways in the hippocampus of aged mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saeed Sadigh-Eteghad
- Neurosciences Research Center (NSRC), Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Seyed Mehdi Vatandoust
- Neurosciences Research Center (NSRC), Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Javad Mahmoudi
- Neurosciences Research Center (NSRC), Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Sepideh Rahigh Aghsan
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Alireza Majdi
- Neurosciences Research Center (NSRC), Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
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Nicotinic Cholinergic System and COVID-19: In Silico Identification of an Interaction between SARS-CoV-2 and Nicotinic Receptors with Potential Therapeutic Targeting Implications. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21165807. [PMID: 32823591 PMCID: PMC7461543 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21165807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
While SARS-CoV-2 uses angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as the receptor for cell entry, it is important to examine other potential interactions between the virus and other cell receptors. Based on the clinical observation of low prevalence of smoking among hospitalized COVID-19 patients, we examined and identified a “toxin-like” amino acid (aa) sequence in the Receptor Binding Domain of the Spike Glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 (aa 375–390), which is homologous to a sequence of the Neurotoxin homolog NL1, one of the many snake venom toxins that are known to interact with nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). We present the 3D structural location of this “toxin-like” sequence on the Spike Glycoprotein and the superposition of the modelled structure of the Neurotoxin homolog NL1 and the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Glycoprotein. We also performed computational molecular modelling and docking experiments using 3D structures of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Glycoprotein and the extracellular domain of the nAChR α9 subunit. We identified a main interaction between the aa 381–386 of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Glycoprotein and the aa 189–192 of the extracellular domain of the nAChR α9 subunit, a region which forms the core of the “toxin-binding site” of the nAChRs. The mode of interaction is very similar to the interaction between the α9 nAChR and α-bungarotoxin. A similar interaction was observed between the pentameric α7 AChR chimera and SARS-CoV-2 Spike Glycoprotein. The findings raise the possibility that SARS-CoV-2 may interact with nAChRs, supporting the hypothesis of dysregulation of the nicotinic cholinergic system being implicated in the pathophysiology of COVID-19. Nicotine and other nicotinic cholinergic agonists may protect nAChRs and thus have therapeutic value in COVID-19 patients.
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Farsalinos K, Barbouni A, Niaura R. Systematic review of the prevalence of current smoking among hospitalized COVID-19 patients in China: could nicotine be a therapeutic option? Intern Emerg Med 2020; 15:845-852. [PMID: 32385628 PMCID: PMC7210099 DOI: 10.1007/s11739-020-02355-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 193] [Impact Index Per Article: 48.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The effects of smoking on Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) are currently unknown. The purpose of this study was to systematically examine the prevalence of current smoking among hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in China, considering the high-population smoking prevalence in China (26.6%). A systematic review of the literature (PubMed) was performed on April 1. Thirteen studies examining the clinical characteristics of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in China and presenting data on the smoking status were found. The pooled prevalence of current smoking from all studies was calculated by random-effect meta-analysis. To address the possibility that some smokers had quit shortly before hospitalization and were classified as former smokers on admission to the hospital, we performed a secondary analysis in which all former smokers were classified as current smokers. A total of 5960 patients were included in the studies identified. The current smoking prevalence ranged from 1.4% (95% CI 0.0-3.4%) to 12.6% (95% CI 10.6-14.6%). An unusually low prevalence of current smoking was observed from the pooled analysis (6.5%, 95% CI 4.9-8.2%) as compared to population smoking prevalence in China. The secondary analysis, classifying former smokers as current smokers, found a pooled estimate of 7.3% (95% CI 5.7-8.9%). In conclusion, an unexpectedly low prevalence of current smoking was observed among patients with COVID-19 in China, which was approximately 1/4th the population smoking prevalence. Although the generalized advice to quit smoking as a measure to reduce health risk remains valid, the findings, together with the well-established immunomodulatory effects of nicotine, suggest that pharmaceutical nicotine should be considered as a potential treatment option in COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantinos Farsalinos
- Department of Public and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of West Attica, Leoforos Alexandras 196A, 11521, Athens, Greece.
| | - Anastasia Barbouni
- Department of Public and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of West Attica, Leoforos Alexandras 196A, 11521, Athens, Greece
| | - Raymond Niaura
- Departments of Social and Behavioral Science and Epidemiology, College of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, USA
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Xu Y, Cao K, Guo B, Xiang J, Dong YT, Qi XL, Yu WF, Xiao Y, Guan ZZ. Lowered levels of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and elevated apoptosis in the hippocampus of brains from patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and db/db mice. Aging (Albany NY) 2020; 12:14205-14218. [PMID: 32701482 PMCID: PMC7425467 DOI: 10.18632/aging.103435] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Cognitive impairment caused by diabetes has been gradually recognized. Generally, nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) play an important role in the pathogenesis in dementia disorders including Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the expression of nAChRs in the brains of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is unexplored. This study explored the alterations of nAChRs in the postmortem brains of patients with T2DM and brains of db/db mice. Morris water maze test was used to appraise the ability of spatial learning and memory; Western blotting and RT-qPCR were performed to determine the expressions of target protein and mRNA, respectively; TUNEL was used to detect the apoptosis of neurons. We found that the protein levels of nAChR α7 and α4 subunits were significantly decreased and the apoptosis rates in neurons elevated in the hippocampus of T2DM patients and db/db mice as comparison to controls. Furthermore, the db/db mice exhibited the impaired cognition, the elevated level of pro-apoptotic protein and the reduced level of anti-apoptotic and synaptic proteins. This study shows the lowered level of nAChR α7 and α4 subunits and the elevated apoptosis in the hippocampus of T2DM patients and db/db mice, which might help explain the impaired cognition in T2DM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Xu
- Departments of Pathology at Guizhou Medical University and the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550004, P. R. of China.,Key Laboratory of Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Guizhou Medical University of the Ministry of Education, Guiyang 550004, P. R. of China
| | - Kun Cao
- Key Laboratory of Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Guizhou Medical University of the Ministry of Education, Guiyang 550004, P. R. of China
| | - Bing Guo
- Department of Pathophysiology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550004, P. R. of China
| | - Jie Xiang
- Departments of Pathology at Guizhou Medical University and the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550004, P. R. of China.,Key Laboratory of Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Guizhou Medical University of the Ministry of Education, Guiyang 550004, P. R. of China
| | - Yang-Ting Dong
- Key Laboratory of Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Guizhou Medical University of the Ministry of Education, Guiyang 550004, P. R. of China.,Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Guiyang 550004, P. R. of China
| | - Xiao-Lan Qi
- Key Laboratory of Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Guizhou Medical University of the Ministry of Education, Guiyang 550004, P. R. of China.,Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Guiyang 550004, P. R. of China
| | - Wen-Feng Yu
- Key Laboratory of Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Guizhou Medical University of the Ministry of Education, Guiyang 550004, P. R. of China.,Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Guiyang 550004, P. R. of China
| | - Yan Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Guizhou Medical University of the Ministry of Education, Guiyang 550004, P. R. of China.,Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Guiyang 550004, P. R. of China
| | - Zhi-Zhong Guan
- Departments of Pathology at Guizhou Medical University and the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550004, P. R. of China.,Key Laboratory of Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Guizhou Medical University of the Ministry of Education, Guiyang 550004, P. R. of China.,Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Guiyang 550004, P. R. of China
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Farsalinos K, Barbouni A, Poulas K, Polosa R, Caponnetto P, Niaura R. Current smoking, former smoking, and adverse outcome among hospitalized COVID-19 patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ther Adv Chronic Dis 2020; 11:2040622320935765. [PMID: 32637059 PMCID: PMC7318805 DOI: 10.1177/2040622320935765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence and effects of current smoking on adverse outcomes among hospitalized COVID-19 patients. METHODS A systematic review of the literature (PubMed) identified 18 (from a total of 1398) relevant studies. Pooled current smoking prevalence was compared with the gender-adjusted and gender and age-adjusted, population-based expected prevalence by calculating prevalence odds ratio (POR). The association between current, compared with non-current and former, smoking and adverse outcome was examined. A secondary analysis was performed by including 12 pre-publications (30 studies in total). All analyses were performed using random-effects meta-analysis. RESULTS Among 6515 patients, the pooled prevalence of current smoking was 6.8% [95% confidence interval (CI): 4.8-9.1%]. The gender-adjusted POR was 0.20 (95% CI: 0.16-0.25, p < 0.001), and the gender and age-adjusted POR was 0.24 (95% CI: 0.19-0.30, p < 0.001). Current smokers were more likely to have an adverse outcome compared with non-current smokers [odds ratio (OR): 1.53, 95%CI: 1.06-2.20, p = 0.022] but less likely compared with former smokers (OR: 0.42, 95% CI: 0.27-0.74, p = 0.003). When pre-publications were added (n = 10,631), the gender-adjusted POR was 0.27 (95% CI: 0.19-0.38, p < 0.001) and the gender and age-adjusted POR was 0.34 (95% CI: 0.24-0.48, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION This meta-analysis of retrospective observational case series found an unexpectedly low prevalence of current smoking among hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Hospitalized current smokers had higher odds compared with non-current smokers but lower odds compared with former smokers for an adverse outcome. Smoking cannot be considered a protective measure for COVID-19. However, the hypothesis that nicotine may have a protective effect in COVID-19 that is partially masked by smoking-related toxicity and by the abrupt cessation of nicotine intake when smokers are hospitalized should be explored in laboratory studies and clinical trials using pharmaceutical nicotine products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantinos Farsalinos
- Department of Pharmacy, Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Immunology, University of Patras, Panepistimiopolis, 26500, Greece
- Department of Public and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of West Attica, Egaleo, Attica, Greece
| | - Anastasia Barbouni
- Department of Public and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of West Attica, Egaleo, Attica, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Poulas
- Department of Pharmacy, Laboratory of Mol. Biology and Immunology, University of Patras, Panepistimiopolis, Greece
| | - Riccardo Polosa
- Center of Excellence for the Acceleration of Harm Reduction, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Pasquale Caponnetto
- Center of Excellence for the Acceleration of Harm Reduction, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Raymond Niaura
- Departments of Social and Behavioral Science and Epidemiology, College of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, USA
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Lewis AS, Picciotto MR. Regulation of aggressive behaviors by nicotinic acetylcholine receptors: Animal models, human genetics, and clinical studies. Neuropharmacology 2020; 167:107929. [PMID: 32058178 PMCID: PMC7080580 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2019.107929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Revised: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 12/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Neuropsychiatric disorders are frequently complicated by aggressive behaviors. For some individuals, existing behavioral and psychopharmacological treatments are ineffective or confer significant side effects, necessitating development of new ways to treat patients with severe aggression. Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are a large and diverse family of ligand-gated ion channels expressed throughout the brain that influence behaviors highly relevant for neuropsychiatric disorders, including attention, mood, and impulsivity. Nicotine and other drugs targeting nAChRs can reduce aggression in animal models of offensive, defensive, and predatory aggression, as well as in human laboratory studies. Human genetic studies have suggested a relationship between the CHRNA7 gene encoding the alpha-7 nAChR and aggressive behavior, although these effects are heterogeneous and strongly influenced by genetic background and environment. Here we review animal, human genetic, and clinical studies supporting a consistent role of nicotine and nAChR signaling in modulation of aggressive behaviors. We integrate findings from recent studies of aggression neuroscience, discuss the circuitry that may be involved in these effects of nAChRs, and identify multiple key questions that must be answered prior to safe and effective translation for human patients. This article is part of the special issue on 'Contemporary Advances in Nicotine Neuropharmacology'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan S Lewis
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Center for Cognitive Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
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Farsalinos K. Editorial: Nicotine and SARS-CoV-2: COVID-19 may be a disease of the nicotinic cholinergic system. Toxicol Rep 2020; 7:658-663. [PMID: 32355638 PMCID: PMC7192087 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2020.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 158] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Konstantinos Farsalinos
- Laboratory of Mol. Biology and Immunology, Department of Pharmacy, University of Patras, Panepistimiopolis, 26500, Greece
- School of Public Health, Department of Public and Community Health, University of West Attica, 11521, Greece
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Ruszkiewicz JA, Zhang Z, Gonçalves FM, Tizabi Y, Zelikoff JT, Aschner M. Neurotoxicity of e-cigarettes. Food Chem Toxicol 2020; 138:111245. [PMID: 32145355 PMCID: PMC7089837 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2020.111245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Revised: 02/29/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
It appears that electronic cigarettes (EC) are a less harmful alternative to conventional cigarette (CC) smoking, as they generate substantially lower levels of harmful carcinogens and other toxic compounds. Thus, switching from CC to EC may be beneficial for smokers. However, recent accounts of EC- or vaping-associated lung injury (EVALI) has raised concerns regarding their adverse health effects. Additionally, the increasing popularity of EC among vulnerable populations, such as adolescents and pregnant women, calls for further EC safety evaluation. In this state-of-the-art review, we provide an update on recent findings regarding the neurological effects induced by EC exposure. Moreover, we discuss possible neurotoxic effects of nicotine and numerous other chemicals which are inherent both to e-liquids and EC aerosols. We conclude that in recognizing pertinent issues associated with EC usage, both government and scientific researchers must address this public health issue with utmost urgency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna A Ruszkiewicz
- Molecular Toxicology Group, Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Ziyan Zhang
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
| | - Filipe Marques Gonçalves
- Biochemistry Graduate Program, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Yousef Tizabi
- Department of Pharmacology, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington DC, United States
| | - Judith T Zelikoff
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, Manhattan, NY, United States
| | - Michael Aschner
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States.
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Pham CQ, Kapolowicz MR, Metherate R, Zeng FG. Nicotine enhances auditory processing in healthy and normal-hearing young adult nonsmokers. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2020; 237:833-840. [PMID: 31832719 PMCID: PMC7039769 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-019-05421-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Electrophysiological studies show that systemic nicotine narrows frequency receptive fields and increases gain in neural responses to characteristic frequency stimuli. We postulated that nicotine enhances related auditory processing in humans. OBJECTIVES The main hypothesis was that nicotine improves auditory performance. A secondary hypothesis was that the degree of nicotine-induced improvement depends on the individual's baseline performance. METHODS Young (18-27 years old), normal-hearing nonsmokers received nicotine (Nicorette gum, 6mg) or placebo gum in a single-blind, randomized, crossover design. Subjects performed four experiments involving tone-in-noise detection, temporal gap detection, spectral ripple discrimination, and selective auditory attention before and after treatment. The perceptual differences between posttreatment nicotine and placebo conditions were measured and analyzed as a function of the pre-treatment baseline performance. RESULTS Nicotine significantly improved performance in the more difficult tasks of tone-in-noise detection and selective attention (effect size = - 0.3) but had no effect on relatively easier tasks of temporal gap detection and spectral ripple discrimination. The two tasks showing significant nicotine effects further showed no baseline-dependent improvement. CONCLUSIONS Nicotine improves auditory performance in difficult listening situations. The present results support future investigation of nicotine effects in clinical populations with auditory processing deficits or reduced cholinergic activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carol Q. Pham
- Center for Hearing Research, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA,Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Michelle R. Kapolowicz
- Center for Hearing Research, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA,Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Raju Metherate
- Center for Hearing Research, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA,Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Fan-Gang Zeng
- Center for Hearing Research, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA. .,Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA. .,Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA. .,Department of Cognitive Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.
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50
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He F, Li T, Lin J, Li F, Zhai Y, Zhang T, Gu X, Zhao G. Passive Smoking Exposure in Living Environments Reduces Cognitive Function: A Prospective Cohort Study in Older Adults. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17041402. [PMID: 32098188 PMCID: PMC7068506 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17041402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Revised: 02/15/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
There is currently no consensus regarding the effects of passive smoking exposure on cognitive function in older adults. We evaluated 7000 permanent residents from six regions within Zhejiang Province, China, aged ≥60 years, without cognitive impairment at baseline and during follow-up examinations for two years. The Chinese version of the Mini-Mental State Examination was used to assess the participants’ cognitive function. Multivariate regression analyses were carried out to calculate the adjusted relative risks (RRs) as measures of the association between passive smoking exposure and cognitive impairment after adjusting for potential confounders. The results showed an association between passive smoking exposure in the living environment and increased risk of cognitive impairment (RR: 1.16; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01–1.35). No dose–response relationship between the cumulative dose of passive smoking exposure (days) and cognitive impairment was observed. The results of stratified analyses suggested a harmful effect of passive smoking exposure on cognitive function in non-smokers (RR: 1.24; 95% CI: 1.06–1.46), but not in smokers (RR: 1.11; 95% CI: 0.71–1.92). Therefore, passive smoking exposure increased the risk of cognitive impairment in older adults, especially non-smokers. More effective measures to restrict smoking in the living environment should be developed and implemented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan He
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China;
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou 310051, China; (J.L.); (F.L.); (Y.Z.); (T.Z.); (X.G.)
| | - Tian Li
- Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA;
| | - Junfen Lin
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou 310051, China; (J.L.); (F.L.); (Y.Z.); (T.Z.); (X.G.)
| | - Fudong Li
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou 310051, China; (J.L.); (F.L.); (Y.Z.); (T.Z.); (X.G.)
| | - Yujia Zhai
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou 310051, China; (J.L.); (F.L.); (Y.Z.); (T.Z.); (X.G.)
| | - Tao Zhang
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou 310051, China; (J.L.); (F.L.); (Y.Z.); (T.Z.); (X.G.)
| | - Xue Gu
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou 310051, China; (J.L.); (F.L.); (Y.Z.); (T.Z.); (X.G.)
| | - Genming Zhao
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-021-54237334
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