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Meng Q, Kim HC, Oh S, Lee YM, Hu Z, Oh KW. Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript (CART) Peptide Plays Critical Role in Psychostimulant-Induced Depression. Biomol Ther (Seoul) 2018; 26:425-431. [PMID: 30157614 PMCID: PMC6131014 DOI: 10.4062/biomolther.2018.141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Revised: 08/08/2018] [Accepted: 08/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) peptide is a widely distributed neurotransmitter expressed in the central nervous systems. Previously, several reports demonstrated that nucleus accumbal-injected CART peptide positively modulated behavioral sensitization induced by psychostimulants and regulated the mesocorticolimbic dopaminergic pathway. It is confirmed that CART peptide exerted inhibitory effect on psychostimulant-enhanced dopamine receptors signaling, Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase signaling and crucial transcription factors expression. Besides modulation of dopamine receptors-related pathways, CART peptide also exhibited elaborated interactions with other neurotransmitter receptors, such as glutamate receptors and γ-aminobutyric acid receptors, which further account for attribution of CART peptide to inhibition of psychostimulant-potentiated locomotor activity. Recently, CART peptide has been shown to have anxiolytic functions on the aversive mood and uncontrolled drug-seeking behaviors following drug withdrawal. Moreover, microinjection of CART peptide has been shown to have an anti-depressant effect, which suggests its potential utility in the mood regulation and avoidance of depression-like behaviors. In this review, we discuss CART pathways in neural circuits and their interactions with neurotransmitters associated with psychostimulant-induced depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Meng
- Queen Mary Institute, School of Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 33006, China
| | - Hyoung-Chun Kim
- Neuropsychopharmacology and Toxicology Program, College of Pharmacy, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Seikwan Oh
- Department of Molecular Medicine and TIDRC, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 07985, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong-Moon Lee
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Chungbuk National University, Osong 28160, Republic of Korea
| | - Zhenzhen Hu
- Department of Pathophysiology, College of Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 33006, China
| | - Ki-Wan Oh
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Chungbuk National University, Osong 28160, Republic of Korea
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Xiong L, Meng Q, Sun X, Lu X, Fu Q, Peng Q, Yang J, Oh KW, Hu Z. Cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript peptide in the nucleus accumbens shell inhibits cocaine-induced locomotor sensitization to transient over-expression of α-Ca 2+ /calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II. J Neurochem 2018; 146:289-303. [PMID: 29313985 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.14289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2017] [Revised: 12/15/2017] [Accepted: 12/18/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) peptide is a widely distributed neurotransmitter that attenuates cocaine-induced locomotor activity when injected into the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Our previous work first confirmed that the inhibitory mechanism of the CART peptide on cocaine-induced locomotor activity is related to a reduction in cocaine-enhanced phosphorylated Ca2+ /calmodulin-dependent protein kinaseIIα (pCaMKIIα) and the enhancement of cocaine-induced D3R function. This study investigated whether CART peptide inhibited cocaine-induced locomotor activity via inhibition of interactions between pCaMKIIα and the D3 dopamine receptor (D3R). We demonstrated that lentivirus-mediated gene transfer transiently increased pCaMKIIα expression, which peaked at 10 days after microinjection into the rat NAc shell, and induced a significant increase in Ca2+ influx along with greater behavioral sensitivity in the open field test after intraperitoneal injections of cocaine (15 mg/kg). However, western blot analysis and coimmunoprecipitation demonstrated that CART peptide treatment in lentivirus-transfected CaMKIIα-over-expressing NAc rat tissues or cells prior to cocaine administration inhibited the cocaine-induced Ca2+ influx and attenuated the cocaine-increased pCaMKIIα expression in lentivirus-transfected CaMKIIα-over-expressing cells. CART peptide decreased the cocaine-enhanced phosphorylated cAMP response element binding protein (pCREB) expression via inhibition of the pCaMKIIα-D3R interaction, which may account for the prolonged locomotor sensitization induced by repeated cocaine treatment in lentivirus-transfected CaMKIIα-over-expressing cells. These results provide strong evidence for the inhibitory modulation of CART peptide in cocaine-induced locomotor sensitization. Cover Image for this issue: doi: 10.1111/jnc.14187.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lixia Xiong
- Department of Pathophysiology, College of Basic Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Qing Meng
- Queen Mary Institute, School of Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Xi Sun
- Anhui Sinobioway Cell Therapy CO., LTD, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Xiangtong Lu
- Department of Pathophysiology, College of Basic Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Qiang Fu
- Department of Respiration, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.,Department of Respiration, Department Two, Jiangxi Provincial People's Hospital, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Qinghua Peng
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Jianhua Yang
- Department of Physiology, College of Basic Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Ki-Wan Oh
- College of Pharmacy, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea
| | - Zhenzhen Hu
- Department of Pathophysiology, College of Basic Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.,Jiangxi Province Key laboratory of Tumor Pathogens and Molecular Pathology and the Department of Pathology, Schools of Basic Medical Sciences and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nanchang University Medical College, Nanchang, China
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Borkar CD, Bharne AP, Nagalakshmi B, Sakharkar AJ, Subhedar NK, Kokare DM. Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript Peptide (CART) Alleviates MK-801-Induced Schizophrenic Dementia-Like Symptoms. Neuroscience 2018; 375:94-107. [PMID: 29425773 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2018.01.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2017] [Revised: 01/22/2018] [Accepted: 01/28/2018] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Exaggerated thoughts, diminished mood and impaired cognition are the hallmarks of the schizophrenia-like condition. These symptoms are attributed to the dysregulation of dopamine and glutamate signaling in the brain. Since cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript peptide (CART) modulates actions of dopamine as well as glutamate, we tested the role of this peptide in MK-801-induced schizophrenic dementia-like condition. MK-801-treated rats were allowed to interact with conspecific juvenile and tested for short-term (30-min) and long-term (24-h) social memory acquisition and recall. While MK-801 impaired the social interaction with a juvenile, the behavior was restored in CART [intracerebroventricular (icv) or intra-ventral tegmental area (VTA)] pre-treated animals. This action of CART was blocked by SCH23390 (dopamine D1 receptor antagonist) administered directly into the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Application of neuronal tracer Di-I in the PFC retrogradely labeled dopamine cells of the VTA, which in turn seem to receive CARTergic innervation. A significant increase in CARTimmunoreactivity was evidenced in the VTA, PFC and accumbens of the animals allowed to interact with a juvenile. However, MK-801 treatment attenuated the peptide expression and induced social memory deficits. The schizophrenic dementia-like symptoms following antagonism of glutamatergic receptors may be attributed to the reduced dopamine activity in the mesocortical system. We suggest that CART may, positively modulate the dopamine system to alleviate cognitive deficits associated with schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chandrashekhar D Borkar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, Nagpur 440 033, Maharashtra, India
| | - Ashish P Bharne
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, Nagpur 440 033, Maharashtra, India
| | - B Nagalakshmi
- Department of Biotechnology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune 411 007, Maharashtra, India
| | - Amul J Sakharkar
- Department of Biotechnology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune 411 007, Maharashtra, India
| | - Nishikant K Subhedar
- Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Dr Homi Bhabha Road, Pune 411 008, Maharashtra, India
| | - Dadasaheb M Kokare
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, Nagpur 440 033, Maharashtra, India.
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Yu C, Zhou X, Fu Q, Peng Q, Oh KW, Hu Z. A New Insight into the Role of CART in Cocaine Reward: Involvement of CaMKII and Inhibitory G-Protein Coupled Receptor Signaling. Front Cell Neurosci 2017; 11:244. [PMID: 28860971 PMCID: PMC5559471 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2017.00244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2017] [Accepted: 08/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) peptides are neuropeptides that are expressed in brain regions associated with reward, such as the nucleus accumbens (NAc), and play a role in cocaine reward. Injection of CART into the NAc can inhibit the behavioral effects of cocaine, and injecting CART into the ventral tegmental area (VTA) reduces cocaine-seeking behavior. However, the exact mechanism of these effects is not clear. Recent research has demonstrated that Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) and inhibitory G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling are involved in the mechanism of the effect of CART on cocaine reward. Hence, we review the role of CaMKII and inhibitory GPCR signaling in the effect of CART on cocaine reward and provide a new insight into the mechanism of that effect. In this article, we will first review the biological function of CART and discuss the role of CART in cocaine reward. Then, we will focus on the role of CaMKII and inhibitory GPCR signaling in cocaine reward. Furthermore, we will discuss how CaMKII and inhibitory GPCR signaling are involved in the mechanistic action of CART in cocaine reward. Finally, we will provide our opinions regarding the future directions of research on the role of CaMKII and inhibitory GPCR signaling in the effect of CART on cocaine reward.
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Affiliation(s)
- ChengPeng Yu
- The Second Clinic Medical College, School of Medicine, Nanchang UniversityNanchang, China
| | - XiaoYan Zhou
- Department of Pathophysiology, College of Medicine, Nanchang UniversityNanchang, China
| | - Qiang Fu
- Department of Respiration, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang UniversityNanchang, China.,Department of Respiration, Department Two, Jiangxi Provincial People's HospitalNanchang, China
| | - QingHua Peng
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang UniversityNanchang, China
| | - Ki-Wan Oh
- College of Pharmacy, Chungbuk National UniversityCheongju, South Korea
| | - ZhenZhen Hu
- Department of Pathophysiology, College of Medicine, Nanchang UniversityNanchang, China.,Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Tumor Pathogens and Molecular Pathology and Department of Pathology, Schools of Basic Medical Sciences and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nanchang University Medical CollegeNanchang, China
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