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Robledo-Montaña J, Díaz-García C, Martínez M, Ambrosio N, Montero E, Marín MJ, Virto L, Muñoz-López M, Herrera D, Sanz M, Leza JC, García-Bueno B, Figuero E, Martín-Hernández D. Microglial morphological/inflammatory phenotypes and endocannabinoid signaling in a preclinical model of periodontitis and depression. J Neuroinflammation 2024; 21:219. [PMID: 39245706 PMCID: PMC11382403 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-024-03213-5] [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: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 08/29/2024] [Indexed: 09/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Depression is a chronic psychiatric disease of multifactorial etiology, and its pathophysiology is not fully understood. Stress and other chronic inflammatory pathologies are shared risk factors for psychiatric diseases, and comorbidities are features of major depression. Epidemiological evidence suggests that periodontitis, as a source of low-grade chronic systemic inflammation, may be associated with depression, but the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. METHODS Periodontitis (P) was induced in Wistar: Han rats through oral gavage with the pathogenic bacteria Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum for 12 weeks, followed by 3 weeks of chronic mild stress (CMS) to induce depressive-like behavior. The following four groups were established (n = 12 rats/group): periodontitis and CMS (P + CMS+), periodontitis without CMS, CMS without periodontitis, and control. The morphology and inflammatory phenotype of microglia in the frontal cortex (FC) were studied using immunofluorescence and bioinformatics tools. The endocannabinoid (EC) signaling and proteins related to synaptic plasticity were analyzed in FC samples using biochemical and immunohistochemical techniques. RESULTS Ultrastructural and fractal analyses of FC revealed a significant increase in the complexity and heterogeneity of Iba1 + parenchymal microglia in the combined experimental model (P + CMS+) and increased expression of the proinflammatory marker inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), while there were no changes in the expression of cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2). In the FC protein extracts of the P + CMS + animals, there was a decrease in the levels of the EC metabolic enzymes N-acyl phosphatidylethanolamine-specific phospholipase D (NAPE-PLD), diacylglycerol lipase (DAGL), and monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) compared to those in the controls, which extended to protein expression in neurons and in FC extracts of cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) and to the intracellular signaling molecules phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (Akt) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2). The protein levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and synaptophysin were also lower in P + CMS + animals than in controls. CONCLUSIONS The combined effects on microglial morphology and inflammatory phenotype, the EC signaling, and proteins related to synaptic plasticity in P + CMS + animals may represent relevant mechanisms explaining the association between periodontitis and depression. These findings highlight potential therapeutic targets that warrant further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Robledo-Montaña
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), Hospital 12 de Octubre Research Institute (Imas12), Neurochemistry Research Institute UCM (IUIN), Pza. Ramón y Cajal s/n, Madrid, 28040, Spain
- Biomedical Network Research Center of Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - César Díaz-García
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), Hospital 12 de Octubre Research Institute (Imas12), Neurochemistry Research Institute UCM (IUIN), Pza. Ramón y Cajal s/n, Madrid, 28040, Spain
- Biomedical Network Research Center of Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - María Martínez
- ETEP (Etiology and Therapy of Periodontal and Peri-Implant Diseases) Research Group, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Dental Clinical Specialties, School of Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Complutense University of Madrid, Pza. Ramón y Cajal s/n, Madrid, 28040, Spain
| | - Nagore Ambrosio
- ETEP (Etiology and Therapy of Periodontal and Peri-Implant Diseases) Research Group, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Dental Clinical Specialties, School of Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Complutense University of Madrid, Pza. Ramón y Cajal s/n, Madrid, 28040, Spain
| | - Eduardo Montero
- ETEP (Etiology and Therapy of Periodontal and Peri-Implant Diseases) Research Group, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Dental Clinical Specialties, School of Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Complutense University of Madrid, Pza. Ramón y Cajal s/n, Madrid, 28040, Spain
| | - María José Marín
- ETEP (Etiology and Therapy of Periodontal and Peri-Implant Diseases) Research Group, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Leire Virto
- ETEP (Etiology and Therapy of Periodontal and Peri-Implant Diseases) Research Group, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Optics, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marina Muñoz-López
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), Hospital 12 de Octubre Research Institute (Imas12), Neurochemistry Research Institute UCM (IUIN), Pza. Ramón y Cajal s/n, Madrid, 28040, Spain
- Biomedical Network Research Center of Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - David Herrera
- ETEP (Etiology and Therapy of Periodontal and Peri-Implant Diseases) Research Group, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Dental Clinical Specialties, School of Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Complutense University of Madrid, Pza. Ramón y Cajal s/n, Madrid, 28040, Spain
| | - Mariano Sanz
- ETEP (Etiology and Therapy of Periodontal and Peri-Implant Diseases) Research Group, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Dental Clinical Specialties, School of Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Complutense University of Madrid, Pza. Ramón y Cajal s/n, Madrid, 28040, Spain
| | - Juan Carlos Leza
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), Hospital 12 de Octubre Research Institute (Imas12), Neurochemistry Research Institute UCM (IUIN), Pza. Ramón y Cajal s/n, Madrid, 28040, Spain
- Biomedical Network Research Center of Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Borja García-Bueno
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), Hospital 12 de Octubre Research Institute (Imas12), Neurochemistry Research Institute UCM (IUIN), Pza. Ramón y Cajal s/n, Madrid, 28040, Spain
- Biomedical Network Research Center of Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Elena Figuero
- ETEP (Etiology and Therapy of Periodontal and Peri-Implant Diseases) Research Group, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
- Department of Dental Clinical Specialties, School of Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Complutense University of Madrid, Pza. Ramón y Cajal s/n, Madrid, 28040, Spain.
| | - David Martín-Hernández
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), Hospital 12 de Octubre Research Institute (Imas12), Neurochemistry Research Institute UCM (IUIN), Pza. Ramón y Cajal s/n, Madrid, 28040, Spain.
- Biomedical Network Research Center of Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Institute of Health Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
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Zhang PF, You WY, Gao YJ, Wu XB. Activation of pyramidal neurons in the infralimbic cortex alleviates LPS-induced depressive-like behavior in mice. Brain Res Bull 2024; 214:111008. [PMID: 38866373 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2024.111008] [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: 03/31/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
The infralimbic (IL) cortex dysfunction has been implicated in major depressive disorder (MDD), yet the precise cellular and molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the role of layer V pyramidal neurons in a mouse model of MDD induced by repeated lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration. Our results demonstrate that three days of systemic LPS administration induced depressive-like behavior and upregulated mRNA levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) in the IL cortex. Electrophysiological recordings revealed a significant decrease in the intrinsic excitability of layer V pyramidal neurons in the IL following systemic LPS exposure. Importantly, chemogenetic activation of IL pyramidal neurons ameliorated LPS-induced depressive-like behavior. Additionally, LPS administration significantly increased microglial activity in the IL, as evidenced by a greater number of Ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule-1 (IBA-1)-positive cells. Morphometric analysis further unveiled enlarged soma, decreased branch numbers, and shorter branch lengths of microglial cells in the IL cortex following LPS exposure. Moreover, the activation of pyramidal neurons by clozapine-N-oxide increased the microglia branch length but did not change branch number or cytosolic area. These results collectively suggest that targeted activation of pyramidal neurons in the IL cortex mitigates microglial response and ameliorates depressive-like behaviors induced by systemic LPS administration. Therefore, our findings offer potential therapeutic targets for the development of interventions aimed at alleviating depressive symptoms by modulating IL cortical circuitry and microglial activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng-Fei Zhang
- Institute of Pain Medicine and Special Environmental Medicine, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Jiangsu 226019, China
| | - Wen-Yong You
- Institute of Pain Medicine and Special Environmental Medicine, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Jiangsu 226019, China
| | - Yong-Jing Gao
- Institute of Pain Medicine and Special Environmental Medicine, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Jiangsu 226019, China.
| | - Xiao-Bo Wu
- Institute of Pain Medicine and Special Environmental Medicine, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Jiangsu 226019, China.
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Ma F, Bian H, Jiao W, Zhang N. Single-cell RNA-seq reveals the role of YAP1 in prefrontal cortex microglia in depression. BMC Neurol 2024; 24:191. [PMID: 38849737 PMCID: PMC11157917 DOI: 10.1186/s12883-024-03685-1] [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: 03/31/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Depression is a complex mood disorder whose pathogenesis involves multiple cell types and molecular pathways. The prefrontal cortex, as a key brain region for emotional regulation, plays a crucial role in depression. Microglia, as immune cells of the central nervous system, have been closely linked to the development and progression of depression through their dysfunctional states. This study aims to utilize single-cell RNA-seq technology to reveal the pathogenic mechanism of YAP1 in prefrontal cortex microglia in depression. METHODS Firstly, we performed cell type identification and differential analysis on normal and depressed prefrontal cortex tissues by mining single-cell RNA-seq datasets from public databases. Focusing on microglia, we conducted sub-clustering, differential gene KEGG enrichment analysis, intercellular interaction analysis, and pseudotime analysis. Additionally, a cross-species analysis was performed to explore the similarities and differences between human and rhesus monkey prefrontal cortex microglia. To validate our findings, we combined bulk RNA-Seq and WGCNA analysis to reveal key genes associated with depression and verified the relationship between YAP1 and depression using clinical samples. RESULTS Our study found significant changes in the proportion and transcriptional profiles of microglia in depressed prefrontal cortex tissues. Further analysis revealed multiple subpopulations of microglia and their associated differential genes and signaling pathways related to depression. YAP1 was identified as a key molecule contributing to the development of depression and was significantly elevated in depression patients. Moreover, the expression level of YAP1 was positively correlated with HAMD scores, suggesting its potential as a biomarker for predicting the onset of depression. CONCLUSION This study utilized single-cell RNA-seq technology to reveal the pathogenic mechanism of YAP1 in prefrontal cortex microglia in depression, providing a new perspective for a deeper understanding of the pathophysiology of depression and identifying potential targets for developing novel treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fenghui Ma
- Department of Health Management, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710038, China
| | - Hongjun Bian
- Department of Pediatrics, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710000, China
| | - Wenyan Jiao
- Department of Psychiatry, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710068, China
| | - Ni Zhang
- Department of Mental Health, Xi'an ZhongShengKaiXin Technology Development Co., Ltd., Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710000, China.
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Wegener AJ, Hyer MM, Targett I, Kloster A, Shaw GA, Rodriguez AMM, Dyer SK, Neigh GN. Behavior, synaptic mitochondria, and microglia are differentially impacted by chronic adolescent stress and repeated endotoxin exposure in male and female rats. Stress 2024; 27:2299971. [PMID: 38179979 PMCID: PMC11064104 DOI: 10.1080/10253890.2023.2299971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Early life adversity and chronic inflammation have both been associated with cognitive impairment and neural compromise. In this study, we investigated the interactions between a history of chronic adolescent stress (CAS) and repeated endotoxin exposure on behavior, synaptic mitochondria, and microglia in adult male and female Wistar rats. Adult rats from chronic stress and control conditions were exposed to either repeated endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide; LPS) or saline injections every 3 days for 9 weeks. In both sexes, repeated LPS, regardless of stress history, impaired working memory in the Y maze. Regarding spatial memory, LPS impaired function for females; whereas, CAS altered function in males. Although males had an increase in anxiety-like behavior shortly after CAS, there were no long-term effects on anxiety-like behavior or social interaction observed in males or females. Stress did not alter synaptic mitochondrial function in either sex. Repeated LPS altered synaptic mitochondrial function such that ATP production was increased in females only. There were no observed increases in IBA-1 positive cells within the hippocampus for either sex. However, LPS and CAS altered microglia morphology in females. Impact of repeated LPS was evident at the terminal endpoint with increased spleen weight in both sexes and decreased adrenal weight in males only. Circulating cytokines were not impacted by repeated LPS at the terminal endpoint, but evidence of CAS effects on cytokines in females were evident. These data suggest a long-term impact of chronic stress and an impact of repeated endotoxin challenge in adulthood; however, not all physiological and behavioral metrics examined were impacted by the paradigm employed in this study and the two environmental challenges rarely interacted.
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Affiliation(s)
- A J Wegener
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - M M Hyer
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - I Targett
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - A Kloster
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - G A Shaw
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - A M M Rodriguez
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - S K Dyer
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - G N Neigh
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
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