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Huang S, Shi C, Liu F, Si Y, Shen D, Yang L, Gao Y, Liao Y. Activation of Epac in the BLA disrupts reconsolidation and attenuates heroin-seeking behaviour. Addict Biol 2023; 28:e13330. [PMID: 37753572 DOI: 10.1111/adb.13330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
The susceptibility to drug cravings evoked by stimuli poses a formidable hurdle in the treatment of addiction and the prevention of relapse. Pharmacological interventions targeting drug-associated memories hold promise for curbing relapse by impeding the process of memory reconsolidation, predominantly governed by cAMP signalling. Exchange Protein Activated by cAMP (Epac) serves as a distinctive mediator of cAMP signalling, which has been implicated in reinforcing the effects of cocaine and facilitating the acquisition. Nonetheless, the role of Epac in heroin-related memory and the subsequent seeking behaviour remains enigmatic. In this study, we explored the impact of Epac activation on the reconsolidation process of drug-related memories associated with heroin self-administration. Over the course of 10 consecutive days, rats underwent training, wherein they acquired the behaviour of nose poking to obtain heroin accompanied by a tone + light cue. This nose-poking behaviour was subsequently extinguished when heroin infusion and cue presentation were discontinued. Subsequently, we administered 8-pCPT-cAMP (8-CPT), an Epac-specific activator, into the basolateral amygdala at various time points, either in the presence or absence of a conditioned stimulus. Our findings demonstrate that administering 8-CPT immediately after memory retrieval effectively reduces cue- and heroin-induced reinstatement, with the observed effects persisting significantly for a minimum of 28 days. However, infusion of 8-CPT for a duration of 6 h following the memory retrieval trial, or without it altogether, had no discernible impact. Thus, these findings strongly suggest that Epac activation can disrupt the reconsolidation of heroin-associated memory, thereby diminishing the reinstatement of heroin-seeking behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shihao Huang
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Cuijie Shi
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology of Hunan Province, School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Fanglin Liu
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Yue Si
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Dan Shen
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, China
| | - Liping Yang
- National Institute on Drug Dependence and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Dependence, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
| | - Yujun Gao
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Clinical and Translational Sciences Lab, The Douglas Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Yiwei Liao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- The Institute of Skull Base Surgery and Neurooncology at Hunan Province, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
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Mu L, Liu X, Yu H, Vickstrom CR, Friedman V, Kelly TJ, Hu Y, Su W, Liu S, Mantsch JR, Liu QS. cAMP-mediated upregulation of HCN channels in VTA dopamine neurons promotes cocaine reinforcement. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:3930-3942. [PMID: 37845497 PMCID: PMC10730389 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02290-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
Chronic cocaine exposure induces enduring neuroadaptations that facilitate motivated drug taking. Hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels are known to modulate neuronal firing and pacemaker activity in ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine neurons. However, it remained unknown whether cocaine self-administration affects HCN channel function and whether HCN channel activity modulates motivated drug taking. We report that rat VTA dopamine neurons predominantly express Hcn3-4 mRNA, while VTA GABA neurons express Hcn1-4 mRNA. Both neuronal types display similar hyperpolarization-activated currents (Ih), which are facilitated by acute increases in cAMP. Acute cocaine application decreases voltage-dependent activation of Ih in VTA dopamine neurons, but not in GABA neurons. Unexpectedly, chronic cocaine self-administration results in enhanced Ih selectively in VTA dopamine neurons. This differential modulation of Ih currents is likely mediated by a D2 autoreceptor-induced decrease in cAMP as D2 (Drd2) mRNA is predominantly expressed in dopamine neurons, whereas D1 (Drd1) mRNA is barely detectable in the VTA. Moreover, chronically decreased cAMP via Gi-DREADD stimulation leads to an increase in Ih in VTA dopamine neurons and enhanced binding of HCN3/HCN4 with tetratricopeptide repeat-containing Rab8b-interacting protein (TRIP8b), an auxiliary subunit that is known to facilitate HCN channel surface trafficking. Finally, we show that systemic injection and intra-VTA infusion of the HCN blocker ivabradine reduces cocaine self-administration under a progressive ratio schedule and produces a downward shift of the cocaine dose-response curve. Our results suggest that cocaine self-administration induces an upregulation of Ih in VTA dopamine neurons, while HCN inhibition reduces the motivation for cocaine intake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lianwei Mu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
| | - Xiaojie Liu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
| | - Hao Yu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
| | - Casey R Vickstrom
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Vladislav Friedman
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
| | - Thomas J Kelly
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
| | - Ying Hu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
| | - Wantang Su
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
- Department of Exercise Physiology, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Shuai Liu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
| | - John R Mantsch
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
| | - Qing-Song Liu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA.
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Slika H, Mansour H, Nasser SA, Shaito A, Kobeissy F, Orekhov AN, Pintus G, Eid AH. Epac as a tractable therapeutic target. Eur J Pharmacol 2023; 945:175645. [PMID: 36894048 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2023.175645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2022] [Revised: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
In 1957, cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) was identified as the first secondary messenger, and the first signaling cascade discovered was the cAMP-protein kinase A (PKA) pathway. Since then, cAMP has received increasing attention given its multitude of actions. Not long ago, a new cAMP effector named exchange protein directly activated by cAMP (Epac) emerged as a critical mediator of cAMP's actions. Epac mediates a plethora of pathophysiologic processes and contributes to the pathogenesis of several diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, lung fibrosis, neurological disorders, and others. These findings strongly underscore the potential of Epac as a tractable therapeutic target. In this context, Epac modulators seem to possess unique characteristics and advantages and hold the promise of providing more efficacious treatments for a wide array of diseases. This paper provides an in-depth dissection and analysis of Epac structure, distribution, subcellular compartmentalization, and signaling mechanisms. We elaborate on how these characteristics can be utilized to design specific, efficient, and safe Epac agonists and antagonists that can be incorporated into future pharmacotherapeutics. In addition, we provide a detailed portfolio for specific Epac modulators highlighting their discovery, advantages, potential concerns, and utilization in the context of clinical disease entities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hasan Slika
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, American University of Beirut, Beirut, P.O. Box 11-0236, Lebanon.
| | - Hadi Mansour
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, American University of Beirut, Beirut, P.O. Box 11-0236, Lebanon.
| | | | - Abdullah Shaito
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, P.O. Box: 2713, Qatar.
| | - Firas Kobeissy
- Department of Neurobiology and Neuroscience, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
| | - Alexander N Orekhov
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Pathology of Cardiovascular System, Institute of Human Morphology, 3 Tsyurupa Street, Moscow, 117418, Russia; Laboratory of Angiopathology, Institute of General Pathology and Pathophysiology, 8 Baltiiskaya Street, Moscow, 125315, Russia; Institute for Atherosclerosis Research, Skolkovo Innovative Center, Osennyaya Street 4-1-207, Moscow, 121609, Russia.
| | - Gianfranco Pintus
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100, Sassari, Italy.
| | - Ali H Eid
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, P.O. Box 2713, Qatar.
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Mu L, Xia D, Cai J, Gu B, Liu X, Friedman V, Liu QS, Zhao L. Treadmill Exercise Reduces Neuroinflammation, Glial Cell Activation and Improves Synaptic Transmission in the Prefrontal Cortex in 3 × Tg-AD Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:12655. [PMID: 36293516 PMCID: PMC9604030 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232012655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Physical exercise improves memory and cognition in physiological aging and Alzheimer's disease (AD), but the mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we test the hypothesis that Aβ oligomer accumulation, neuroinflammation, and glial cell activation may lead to disruption of synaptic transmission in the prefrontal cortex of 3 × Tg-AD Mice, resulting in impairment of learning and memory. On the other hand, treadmill exercise could prevent the pathogenesis and exert neuroprotective effects. Here, we used immunohistochemistry, western blotting, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and slice electrophysiology to analyze the levels of GSK3β, Aβ oligomers (Aβ dimers and trimers), pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNFα), the phosphorylation of CRMP2 at Thr514, and synaptic currents in pyramidal neurons in the prefrontal cortex. We show that 12-week treadmill exercise beginning in three-month-old mice led to the inhibition of GSK3β kinase activity, decreases in the levels of Aβ oligomers, pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNFα), and the phosphorylation of CRMP2 at Thr514, reduction of microglial and astrocyte activation, and improvement of excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmission of pyramidal neurons in the prefrontal cortex of 3 × Tg-AD Mice. Thus, treadmill exercise reduces neuroinflammation, glial cell activation and improves synaptic transmission in the prefrontal cortex in 3 × Tg-AD mice, possibly related to the inhibition of GSK3β kinase activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lianwei Mu
- Department of Exercise Physiology, Guangzhou Sport University, Guangzhou 510500, China
- Key Laboratory of Physical Fitness and Exercise, Ministry of Education, Beijing Sport University, Beijing 100084, China
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Dongdong Xia
- Key Laboratory of Physical Fitness and Exercise, Ministry of Education, Beijing Sport University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Jiajia Cai
- Key Laboratory of Physical Fitness and Exercise, Ministry of Education, Beijing Sport University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Boya Gu
- Key Laboratory of Physical Fitness and Exercise, Ministry of Education, Beijing Sport University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Xiaojie Liu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Vladislav Friedman
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Qing-Song Liu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Li Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Physical Fitness and Exercise, Ministry of Education, Beijing Sport University, Beijing 100084, China
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