1
|
Widman CJ, Ventresca S, Dietrich J, Elmslie G, Smith H, Kaup G, Wesley A, Doenecke M, Williams FE, Schiefer IT, Ellis J, Messer WS. Hybrid Allosteric Modulators of M1 Muscarinic Receptors Enhance Acetylcholine Efficacy and Decrease Locomotor Activity and Turning Behaviors in Zebrafish. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-3901189. [PMID: 38410427 PMCID: PMC10896388 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3901189/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Allosteric modulation of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChR) has been identified as a potential strategy for regulating cholinergic signaling in the treatment of various neurological disorders. Most positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of mAChR enhance agonist affinity and potency, while very few PAMs selectively enhance G-protein coupling efficacy (e.g., amiodarone). The key structural features of amiodarone responsible for enhancement of mAChR efficacy were examined in CHO cells expressing M1 receptors. Subsequent incorporation of these structural features into previously identified allosteric modulators of potency (i.e., n-benzyl isatins) generated hybrid ligands that demonstrated similar or better enhancement of mAChR efficacy, lower in vivo toxicity, and higher allosteric binding affinity relative to amiodarone. Notable hybrid ligands include 8a and 8b which respectively demonstrated the strongest binding affinity and the most robust enhancement of mAChR efficacy as calculated from an allosteric operational model. Amiodarone derivatives and hybrid ligands were additionally screened in wildtype zebrafish (Danio rerio) to provide preliminary in vivo toxicity data as well as to observe effects on locomotor and turning behaviors relative to other mAChR PAMs. Several compounds, including 8a and 8c, reduced locomotor activity and increased measures of turning behaviors in zebrafish, suggesting that allosteric modulation of muscarinic receptor efficacy might be useful in the treatment of repetitive behaviors associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neuropsychiatric disorders.
Collapse
|
2
|
de Bartolomeis A, Ciccarelli M, De Simone G, Mazza B, Barone A, Vellucci L. Canonical and Non-Canonical Antipsychotics' Dopamine-Related Mechanisms of Present and Next Generation Molecules: A Systematic Review on Translational Highlights for Treatment Response and Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065945. [PMID: 36983018 PMCID: PMC10051989 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a severe psychiatric illness affecting almost 25 million people worldwide and is conceptualized as a disorder of synaptic plasticity and brain connectivity. Antipsychotics are the primary pharmacological treatment after more than sixty years after their introduction in therapy. Two findings hold true for all presently available antipsychotics. First, all antipsychotics occupy the dopamine D2 receptor (D2R) as an antagonist or partial agonist, even if with different affinity; second, D2R occupancy is the necessary and probably the sufficient mechanism for antipsychotic effect despite the complexity of antipsychotics' receptor profile. D2R occupancy is followed by coincident or divergent intracellular mechanisms, implying the contribution of cAMP regulation, β-arrestin recruitment, and phospholipase A activation, to quote some of the mechanisms considered canonical. However, in recent years, novel mechanisms related to dopamine function beyond or together with D2R occupancy have emerged. Among these potentially non-canonical mechanisms, the role of Na2+ channels at the dopamine at the presynaptic site, dopamine transporter (DAT) involvement as the main regulator of dopamine concentration at synaptic clefts, and the putative role of antipsychotics as chaperones for intracellular D2R sequestration, should be included. These mechanisms expand the fundamental role of dopamine in schizophrenia therapy and may have relevance to considering putatively new strategies for treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS), an extremely severe condition epidemiologically relevant and affecting almost 30% of schizophrenia patients. Here, we performed a critical evaluation of the role of antipsychotics in synaptic plasticity, focusing on their canonical and non-canonical mechanisms of action relevant to the treatment of schizophrenia and their subsequent implication for the pathophysiology and potential therapy of TRS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea de Bartolomeis
- Section of Psychiatry, Laboratory of Translational and Molecular Psychiatry and Unit of Treatment-Resistant Psychosis, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, University Medical School of Naples "Federico II", 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Mariateresa Ciccarelli
- Section of Psychiatry, Laboratory of Translational and Molecular Psychiatry and Unit of Treatment-Resistant Psychosis, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, University Medical School of Naples "Federico II", 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Giuseppe De Simone
- Section of Psychiatry, Laboratory of Translational and Molecular Psychiatry and Unit of Treatment-Resistant Psychosis, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, University Medical School of Naples "Federico II", 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Benedetta Mazza
- Section of Psychiatry, Laboratory of Translational and Molecular Psychiatry and Unit of Treatment-Resistant Psychosis, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, University Medical School of Naples "Federico II", 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Annarita Barone
- Section of Psychiatry, Laboratory of Translational and Molecular Psychiatry and Unit of Treatment-Resistant Psychosis, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, University Medical School of Naples "Federico II", 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Licia Vellucci
- Section of Psychiatry, Laboratory of Translational and Molecular Psychiatry and Unit of Treatment-Resistant Psychosis, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, University Medical School of Naples "Federico II", 80131 Naples, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
de Bartolomeis A, Ciccarelli M, Vellucci L, Fornaro M, Iasevoli F, Barone A. Update on novel antipsychotics and pharmacological strategies for treatment resistant schizophrenia. Expert Opin Pharmacother 2022; 23:2035-2052. [DOI: 10.1080/14656566.2022.2145884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea de Bartolomeis
- Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Psychiatry and Unit of Treatment Resistant Psychosis, Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Science and Dentistry, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
| | - Mariateresa Ciccarelli
- Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Psychiatry and Unit of Treatment Resistant Psychosis, Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Science and Dentistry, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
| | - Licia Vellucci
- Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Psychiatry and Unit of Treatment Resistant Psychosis, Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Science and Dentistry, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
| | - Michele Fornaro
- Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Psychiatry and Unit of Treatment Resistant Psychosis, Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Science and Dentistry, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
| | - Felice Iasevoli
- Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Psychiatry and Unit of Treatment Resistant Psychosis, Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Science and Dentistry, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
| | - Annarita Barone
- Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Psychiatry and Unit of Treatment Resistant Psychosis, Section of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Science and Dentistry, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Acupoints with potential to treat schizophrenia: A systematic review and data mining analysis. Eur J Integr Med 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.eujim.2020.101143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
|
5
|
New Targets for Schizophrenia Treatment beyond the Dopamine Hypothesis. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18081689. [PMID: 28771182 PMCID: PMC5578079 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18081689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 149] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2017] [Revised: 07/30/2017] [Accepted: 08/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia has been primarily associated with dopamine dysfunction, and treatments have been developed that target the dopamine pathway in the central nervous system. However, accumulating evidence has shown that the core pathophysiology of schizophrenia might involve dysfunction in dopaminergic, glutamatergic, serotonergic, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) signaling, which may lead to aberrant functioning of interneurons that manifest as cognitive, behavioral, and social dysfunction through altered functioning of a broad range of macro- and microcircuits. The interactions between neurotransmitters can be modeled as nodes and edges by using graph theory, and oxidative balance, immune, and glutamatergic systems may represent multiple nodes interlocking at a central hub; imbalance within any of these nodes might affect the entire system. Therefore, this review attempts to address novel treatment targets beyond the dopamine hypothesis, including glutamate, serotonin, acetylcholine, GABA, and inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, we outline that these treatment targets can be possibly integrated with novel treatment strategies aimed at different symptoms or phases of the illness. We anticipate that reversing anomalous activity in these novel treatment targets or combinations between these strategies might be beneficial in the treatment of schizophrenia.
Collapse
|
6
|
Damazio LS, Silveira FR, Canever L, Castro AADE, Estrela JM, Budni J, Zugno AI. The preventive effects of ascorbic acid supplementation on locomotor and acetylcholinesterase activity in an animal model of schizophrenia induced by ketamine. AN ACAD BRAS CIENC 2017; 89:1133-1141. [PMID: 28513779 DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765201720160490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2016] [Accepted: 10/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies have shown that schizophrenic patients seem to have nutritional deficiencies. Ascorbic acid (AA) has an important antioxidant effect and neuromodulatory properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of AA on locomotor activity and the acetylcholinesterase activity (AChE) in an animal model of schizophrenia (SZ). Rats were supplemented with AA (0.1, 1, or 10 mg/kg), or water for 14 days (gavage). Between the 9th and 15th days, the animals received Ketamine (Ket) (25 mg/kg) or saline (i.p). After the last administration (30 min) rats were subjected to the behavioral test. Brain structures were dissected for biochemical analysis. There was a significant increase in the locomotor activity in Ket treated. AA prevented the hyperlocomotion induced by ket. Ket also showed an increase of AChE activity within the prefrontal cortex and striatum prevented by AA. Our data indicates an effect for AA in preventing alterations induced by Ket in an animal model of SZ, suggesting that it may be an adjuvant approach for the development of new therapeutic strategies within this psychiatric disorder.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Louyse S Damazio
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Laboratório de Neurociências, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Unidade Acadêmica de Ciências da Saúde, Av. Universitária, 1105, Bairro Universitário, 88806-000 Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Flávia R Silveira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Laboratório de Neurociências, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Unidade Acadêmica de Ciências da Saúde, Av. Universitária, 1105, Bairro Universitário, 88806-000 Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Lara Canever
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Laboratório de Neurociências, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Unidade Acadêmica de Ciências da Saúde, Av. Universitária, 1105, Bairro Universitário, 88806-000 Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Adalberto A DE Castro
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Laboratório de Neurociências, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Unidade Acadêmica de Ciências da Saúde, Av. Universitária, 1105, Bairro Universitário, 88806-000 Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Jadne M Estrela
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Laboratório de Neurociências, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Unidade Acadêmica de Ciências da Saúde, Av. Universitária, 1105, Bairro Universitário, 88806-000 Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Josiane Budni
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Laboratório de Neurociências, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Unidade Acadêmica de Ciências da Saúde, Av. Universitária, 1105, Bairro Universitário, 88806-000 Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Alexandra I Zugno
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Laboratório de Neurociências, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Unidade Acadêmica de Ciências da Saúde, Av. Universitária, 1105, Bairro Universitário, 88806-000 Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Udawela M, Scarr E, Boer S, Um JY, Hannan AJ, McOmish C, Felder CC, Thomas EA, Dean B. Isoform specific differences in phospholipase C beta 1 expression in the prefrontal cortex in schizophrenia and suicide. NPJ SCHIZOPHRENIA 2017; 3:19. [PMID: 28560265 PMCID: PMC5441535 DOI: 10.1038/s41537-017-0020-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2016] [Revised: 03/09/2017] [Accepted: 03/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Our previous study demonstrated that phospholipase C beta 1 mRNA was down-regulated in Brodmann's area 46 from subjects with schizophrenia. However, phospholipase C beta 1 protein has also been shown to be lower in Brodmann's area 8 and 9 from teenage suicide subjects, creating a potential confound in interpreting the findings in schizophrenia due to the high suicide rate associated with this disorder. To begin to reconcile and consolidate these findings, in this study, we measured mRNA and protein levels of phospholipase C beta 1 variants a and b in Brodmann's area 46 and Brodmann's area 9 from subjects with schizophrenia, many of whom were suicide completers, and determined the diagnostic specificity of observed findings. Consistent with our previous study, levels of phospholipase C beta 1 a and b mRNA, but not protein, were lower in Brodmann's area 46 from subjects with schizophrenia. In Brodmann's area 9, phospholipase C beta 1a protein levels were lower in subjects with schizophrenia, while phospholipase C beta 1b mRNA was higher and protein was lower in those that had died of suicide. Altered protein levels in Brodmann's area 9 appeared to be diagnostically specific, as we did not detect these changes in subjects with bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder or suicide completers with no diagnosis of mental illness. We further assessed the relationship between phospholipase C beta 1 and levels of muscarinic receptors (CHRMs) that signal through this protein, in both human and Chrm knockout mouse central nervous system tissue, and found no strong relationship between the two. Understanding central nervous system differences in downstream effector pathways in schizophrenia may lead to improved treatment strategies and help to identify those at risk of suicide.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Udawela
- Molecular Psychiatry Laboratories, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC Australia
| | - E Scarr
- Molecular Psychiatry Laboratories, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC Australia
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC Australia
| | - S Boer
- Molecular Psychiatry Laboratories, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC Australia
| | - J Y Um
- Molecular Psychiatry Laboratories, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC Australia
- Cardiovascular and Neurology Products Division, Drug Evaluation Department, National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation, Osong Health Technology Administration Complex, Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea
| | - A J Hannan
- Epigenetics and Neural Plasticity Laboratory, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC Australia
| | - C McOmish
- Molecular Psychiatry Laboratories, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC Australia
| | - C C Felder
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Neuroscience Research Division, Eli Lilly and Company, Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, IN USA
| | - E A Thomas
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - B Dean
- Molecular Psychiatry Laboratories, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC Australia
- Cardiovascular and Neurology Products Division, Drug Evaluation Department, National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation, Osong Health Technology Administration Complex, Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Jeon WJ, Dean B, Scarr E, Gibbons A. The Role of Muscarinic Receptors in the Pathophysiology of Mood Disorders: A Potential Novel Treatment? Curr Neuropharmacol 2016; 13:739-49. [PMID: 26630954 PMCID: PMC4759313 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x13666150612230045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2014] [Revised: 12/30/2014] [Accepted: 02/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The central cholinergic system has been implicated in the pathophysiology of mood disorders. An imbalance in central cholinergic neurotransmitter activity has been proposed to contribute to the manic and depressive episodes typical of these disorders. Neuropharmacological studies into the effects of cholinergic agonists and antagonists on mood state have provided considerable support for this hypothesis. Furthermore, recent clinical studies have shown that the pan-CHRM antagonist, scopolamine, produces rapid-acting antidepressant effects in individuals with either major depressive disorder (MDD) or bipolar disorder (BPD), such as bipolar depression, contrasting the delayed therapeutic response of conventional mood stabilisers and antidepressants. This review presents recent data from neuroimaging, post-mortem and genetic studies supporting the involvement of muscarinic cholinergic receptors (CHRMs), particularly CHRM2, in the pathophysiology of MDD and BPD. Thus, novel drugs that selectively target CHRMs with negligible effects in the peripheral nervous system might produce more rapid and robust clinical improvement in patients with BPD and MDD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Brian Dean
- Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, 30 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Association between ANKK1 (rs1800497) and LTA (rs909253) Genetic Variants and Risk of Schizophrenia. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2015. [PMID: 26114114 DOI: 10.1155/2015/821827]] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Limited research has assessed associations between schizophrenia and genetic variants of the ankyrin repeat and kinase domain containing 1 (ANKK1) and lymphotoxin-alpha (LTA) genes among individuals of Middle Eastern ancestry. Here we present the first association study investigating the ANKK1 rs1800497 (T>C) and LTA rs909253 (A>G) single-nucleotide polymorphisms in an Egyptian population. Among 120 patients with DSM-IV and PANSS (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale) assessments of schizophrenia and 100 healthy controls, we determined the genotypes for the polymorphisms using endonuclease digestion of amplified genomic DNA. Results confirmed previous findings from different ethnic populations, in that the rs1800497 and rs909253 polymorphisms were both associated with risk of schizophrenia. Differences between the genotypes of cases and controls were strongly significant (P = 0.0005 for rs1800497 and P = 0.001 for rs909253). The relative risk to schizophrenia was 1.2 (P = 0.01) for the C allele and 0.8 (P = 0.04) for the G allele. The CC, GG, and combined CC/AA genotypes were all more frequent in cases than in controls. These results support an association between ANKK1 and LTA genetic markers and vulnerability to schizophrenia and show the potential influence of just one copy of the mutant C or G allele in the Egyptian population.
Collapse
|
10
|
Szabo M, Huynh T, Valant C, Lane JR, Sexton PM, Christopoulos A, Capuano B. A structure–activity relationship study of the positive allosteric modulator LY2033298 at the M4 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor. MEDCHEMCOMM 2015. [DOI: 10.1039/c5md00334b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Positive allosteric modulators targeting the M4 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor offer greater sub-type selectivity and unique potential as CNS agents through their novel mode of action to traditional orthosteric ligands.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Monika Szabo
- Medicinal Chemistry
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Monash University
- Parkville 3052
- Australia
| | - Tracey Huynh
- Medicinal Chemistry
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Monash University
- Parkville 3052
- Australia
| | - Celine Valant
- Drug Discovery Biology
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Monash University
- Parkville 3052
- Australia
| | - J. Robert Lane
- Drug Discovery Biology
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Monash University
- Parkville 3052
- Australia
| | - Patrick M. Sexton
- Drug Discovery Biology
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Monash University
- Parkville 3052
- Australia
| | - Arthur Christopoulos
- Drug Discovery Biology
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Monash University
- Parkville 3052
- Australia
| | - Ben Capuano
- Medicinal Chemistry
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Monash University
- Parkville 3052
- Australia
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Mattei D, Schweibold R, Wolf SA. Brain in flames - animal models of psychosis: utility and limitations. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2015; 11:1313-29. [PMID: 26064050 PMCID: PMC4455860 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s65564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The neurodevelopmental hypothesis of schizophrenia posits that schizophrenia is a psychopathological condition resulting from aberrations in neurodevelopmental processes caused by a combination of environmental and genetic factors which proceed long before the onset of clinical symptoms. Many studies discuss an immunological component in the onset and progression of schizophrenia. We here review studies utilizing animal models of schizophrenia with manipulations of genetic, pharmacologic, and immunological origin. We focus on the immunological component to bridge the studies in terms of evaluation and treatment options of negative, positive, and cognitive symptoms. Throughout the review we link certain aspects of each model to the situation in human schizophrenic patients. In conclusion we suggest a combination of existing models to better represent the human situation. Moreover, we emphasize that animal models represent defined single or multiple symptoms or hallmarks of a given disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Mattei
- Department of Cellular Neuroscience, Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Regina Schweibold
- Department of Cellular Neuroscience, Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany ; Department of Neurosurgery, Helios Clinics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Susanne A Wolf
- Department of Cellular Neuroscience, Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Lustig C, Sarter M. Attention and the Cholinergic System: Relevance to Schizophrenia. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2015; 28:327-62. [PMID: 27418070 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2015_5009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Traditional methods of drug discovery often rely on a unidirectional, "bottom-up" approach: A search for molecular compounds that target a particular neurobiological substrate (e.g., a receptor type), the refinement of those compounds, testing in animal models using high-throughput behavioral screening methods, and then human testing for safety and effectiveness. Many attempts have found the "effectiveness" criterion to be a major stumbling block, and we and others have suggested that success may be improved by an alternative approach that considers the neural circuits mediating the effects of genetic and molecular manipulations on behavior and cognition. We describe our efforts to understand the cholinergic system's role in attention using parallel approaches to test main hypotheses in both rodents and humans as well as generating converging evidence using methods and levels of analysis tailored to each species. The close back-and-forth between these methods has enhanced our understanding of the cholinergic system's role in attention both "bottom-up" and "top-down"-that is, the basic neuroscience identifies potential neuronal circuit-based mechanisms of clinical symptoms, and the patient and genetic populations serve as natural experiments to test and refine hypotheses about its contribution to specific processes. Together, these studies have identified (at least) two major and potentially independent contributions of the cholinergic system to attention: a neuromodulatory component that influences cognitive control in response to challenges from distractors that either make detection more difficult or draw attention away from the distractor, and a phasic or transient cholinergic signal that instigates a shift from ongoing behavior and the activation of cue-associated response. Right prefrontal cortex appears to play a particularly important role in the neuromodulatory component integrating motivational and cognitive influences for top-down control across populations, whereas the transient cholinergic signal involves orbitofrontal regions associated with shifts between internal and external attention. Understanding how these two modes of cholinergic function interact and are perturbed in schizophrenia will be an important prerequisite for developing effective treatments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cindy Lustig
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, 530 Church Street, Ann Arbor, MI, 48103, USA.
| | - Martin Sarter
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, 530 Church Street, Ann Arbor, MI, 48103, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Arab AH, Elhawary NA. Association between ANKK1 (rs1800497) and LTA (rs909253) Genetic Variants and Risk of Schizophrenia. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2015; 2015:821827. [PMID: 26114114 PMCID: PMC4465678 DOI: 10.1155/2015/821827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2015] [Accepted: 05/18/2015] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Limited research has assessed associations between schizophrenia and genetic variants of the ankyrin repeat and kinase domain containing 1 (ANKK1) and lymphotoxin-alpha (LTA) genes among individuals of Middle Eastern ancestry. Here we present the first association study investigating the ANKK1 rs1800497 (T>C) and LTA rs909253 (A>G) single-nucleotide polymorphisms in an Egyptian population. Among 120 patients with DSM-IV and PANSS (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale) assessments of schizophrenia and 100 healthy controls, we determined the genotypes for the polymorphisms using endonuclease digestion of amplified genomic DNA. Results confirmed previous findings from different ethnic populations, in that the rs1800497 and rs909253 polymorphisms were both associated with risk of schizophrenia. Differences between the genotypes of cases and controls were strongly significant (P = 0.0005 for rs1800497 and P = 0.001 for rs909253). The relative risk to schizophrenia was 1.2 (P = 0.01) for the C allele and 0.8 (P = 0.04) for the G allele. The CC, GG, and combined CC/AA genotypes were all more frequent in cases than in controls. These results support an association between ANKK1 and LTA genetic markers and vulnerability to schizophrenia and show the potential influence of just one copy of the mutant C or G allele in the Egyptian population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arwa H. Arab
- 1Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80200, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nasser A. Elhawary
- 2Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, P.O. Box 57543, Mecca 21955, Saudi Arabia
- 3Department of Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11566, Egypt
- *Nasser A. Elhawary:
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Expression of DISC1-interactome members correlates with cognitive phenotypes related to schizophrenia. PLoS One 2014; 9:e99892. [PMID: 24940743 PMCID: PMC4062455 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0099892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2014] [Accepted: 05/19/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cognitive dysfunction is central to the schizophrenia phenotype. Genetic and functional studies have implicated Disrupted-in-Schizophrenia 1 (DISC1), a leading candidate gene for schizophrenia and related psychiatric conditions, in cognitive function. Altered expression of DISC1 and DISC1-interactors has been identified in schizophrenia. Dysregulated expression of DISC1-interactome genes might, therefore, contribute to schizophrenia susceptibility via disruption of molecular systems required for normal cognitive function. Here, the blood RNA expression levels of DISC1 and DISC1-interacting proteins were measured in 63 control subjects. Cognitive function was assessed using neuropsychiatric tests and functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to assess the activity of prefrontal cortical regions during the N-back working memory task, which is abnormal in schizophrenia. Pairwise correlations between gene expression levels and the relationship between gene expression levels and cognitive function and N-back-elicited brain activity were assessed. Finally, the expression levels of DISC1, AKAP9, FEZ1, NDEL1 and PCM1 were compared between 63 controls and 69 schizophrenic subjects. We found that DISC1-interactome genes showed correlated expression in the blood of healthy individuals. The expression levels of several interactome members were correlated with cognitive performance and N-back-elicited activity in the prefrontal cortex. In addition, DISC1 and NDEL1 showed decreased expression in schizophrenic subjects compared to healthy controls. Our findings highlight the importance of the coordinated expression of DISC1-interactome genes for normal cognitive function and suggest that dysregulated DISC1 and NDEL1 expression might, in part, contribute to susceptibility for schizophrenia via disruption of prefrontal cortex-dependent cognitive functions.
Collapse
|
15
|
Zwart R, Strotton M, Ching J, Astles PC, Sher E. Unique pharmacology of heteromeric α7β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. Eur J Pharmacol 2014; 726:77-86. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2014.01.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2013] [Revised: 01/13/2014] [Accepted: 01/21/2014] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
|
16
|
Pae CU. Role of the cholinesterase inhibitors in the treatment of schizophrenia. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2013; 22:293-8. [DOI: 10.1517/13543784.2013.762355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
|
17
|
Moran VE. Cotinine: Beyond that Expected, More than a Biomarker of Tobacco Consumption. Front Pharmacol 2012; 3:173. [PMID: 23087643 PMCID: PMC3467453 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2012.00173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2012] [Accepted: 09/10/2012] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
A greater incidence of tobacco consumption occurs among individuals with psychiatric conditions including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bipolar disorder, major depression, and schizophrenia, compared with the general population. Even when still controversial, it has been postulated that smoking is a form of self-medication that reduces psychiatric symptoms among individuals with these disorders. To better understand the component(s) of tobacco-inducing smoking behavior, greater attention has been directed toward nicotine. However, in recent years, new evidence has shown that cotinine, the main metabolite of nicotine, exhibits beneficial effects over psychiatric symptoms and may therefore promote smoking within this population. Some of the behavioral effects of cotinine compared to nicotine are discussed here. Cotinine, which accumulates in the body as a result of tobacco exposure, crosses the blood-brain barrier and has different pharmacological properties compared with nicotine. Cotinine has a longer plasma half-life than nicotine and showed no addictive or cardiovascular effects in humans. In addition, at the preclinical level, cotinine facilitated the extinction of fear memory and anxiety after fear conditioning, improved working memory in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and in a monkey model of schizophrenia. Altogether, the new evidence suggests that the pharmacological and behavioral effects of cotinine may play a key role in promoting tobacco smoking in individuals that suffer from psychiatric conditions and represents a new potential therapeutic agent against psychiatric conditions such as AD and PTSD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Echeverria Moran
- Research and Development, Department of Veterans Affairs, Bay Pines VA Healthcare System Bay Pines, FL, USA ; Tampa VA Healthcare System Tampa, FL, USA ; Department of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida Tampa, FL, USA
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Cholinergic blockade under working memory demands encountered by increased rehearsal strategies: evidence from fMRI in healthy subjects. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2012; 262:329-39. [PMID: 22006639 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-011-0267-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2011] [Accepted: 10/06/2011] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
The connection between cholinergic transmission and cognitive performance has been established in behavioural studies. The specific contribution of the muscarinic receptor system on cognitive performance and brain activation, however, has not been evaluated satisfyingly. To investigate the specific contribution of the muscarinic transmission on neural correlates of working memory, we examined the effects of scopolamine, an antagonist of the muscarinic receptors, using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Fifteen healthy male, non-smoking subjects performed a fMRI scanning session following the application of scopolamine (0.4 mg, i.v.) or saline in a placebo-controlled, repeated measure, pseudo-randomized, single-blind design. Working memory was probed using an n-back task. Compared to placebo, challenging the cholinergic transmission with scopolamine resulted in hypoactivations in parietal, occipital and cerebellar areas and hyperactivations in frontal and prefrontal areas. These alterations are interpreted as compensatory strategies used to account for downregulation due to muscarinic acetylcholine blockade in parietal and cerebral storage systems by increased activation in frontal and prefrontal areas related to working memory rehearsal. Our results further underline the importance of cholinergic transmission to working memory performance and determine the specific contribution of muscarinic transmission on cerebral activation associated with executive functioning.
Collapse
|
19
|
Sarter M, Lustig C, Taylor SF. Cholinergic contributions to the cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia and the viability of cholinergic treatments. Neuropharmacology 2010; 62:1544-53. [PMID: 21156184 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2010.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2010] [Revised: 10/31/2010] [Accepted: 12/01/2010] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Effective treatment of the cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia has remained an elusive goal. Despite the intense focus on treatments acting at or via cholinergic mechanisms, little remains known about the dynamic cholinergic abnormalities that contribute to the manifestation of the cognitive symptoms in patients. Evidence from basic neuroscientific and psychopharmacological investigations assists in proposing detailed cholinergic mechanisms and treatment targets for enhancement of attentional performance. Dynamic, cognitive performance-dependent abnormalities in cholinergic activity have been observed in animal models of the disorder and serve to further refine such proposals. Finally, the potential usefulness of individual groups of cholinergic drugs and important issues concerning the interactions between pro-cholinergic and antipsychotic treatments are addressed. The limited evidence available from patient studies and animal models indicates pressing research needs in order to guide the development of cholinergic treatments of the cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Martin Sarter
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, University of Michigan, 530 Church Street, 4032 East Hall, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
20
|
Schizophrenia, "just the facts" 5. Treatment and prevention. Past, present, and future. Schizophr Res 2010; 122:1-23. [PMID: 20655178 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2010.05.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 231] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2010] [Revised: 05/22/2010] [Accepted: 05/25/2010] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The introduction of second-generation antipsychotics and cognitive therapies for schizophrenia over the past two decades generated considerable optimism about possibilities for recovery. To what extent have these developments resulted in better outcomes for affected individuals? What is the current state of our science and how might we address the many unmet needs in the prevention and treatment of schizophrenia? We trace the evolution of various treatments for schizophrenia and summarize current knowledge about available pharmacological and psychosocial treatments. We consider the widely prevalent efficacy-effectiveness gap in the application of available treatments and note the significant variability in individual treatment response and outcome. We outline an individualized treatment approach which emphasizes careful monitoring and collaborative decision-making in the context of ongoing benefit-risk assessment. We note that the evolution of both pharmacological and psychosocial treatments thus far has been based principally on serendipity and intuition. In view of our improved understanding of the etiology and pathophysiology of schizophrenia, there is an opportunity to develop prevention strategies and treatments based on this enhanced knowledge. In this context, we discuss potential psychopathological treatment targets and enumerate current pharmacological and psychosocial development efforts directed at them. Considering the stages of schizophrenic illness, we review approaches to prevent progression from the pre-symptomatic high-risk to the prodrome to the initial psychotic phase to chronicity. In view of the heterogeneity of risk factors, we summarize approaches towards targeted prevention. We evaluate the potential contribution of pharmacogenomics and other biological markers in optimizing individual treatment and outcome in the future.
Collapse
|