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Dabbah-Assadi F, Rashid S, Golani I, Rubinstein A, Doron R, Alon D, Palzur E, Beloosesky R, Shamir A. Long-term effects of prophylactic MgSO 4 in maternal immune activation rodent model at adolescence and adulthood. J Neurosci Res 2023; 101:316-326. [PMID: 36434794 PMCID: PMC10100175 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.25148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The effects of MgSO4 as an anti-inflammatory agent in pregnant women have been investigated in the last few years. Infections can cause an inflammatory reaction involving the placenta membranes and amniotic cavity. They may have short-term effects on the mother and her fetuses, like preterm birth, cerebral palsy, and developmental delay. Despite the alleged advantages of MgSO4 as a neuroprotective agent in the preterm brain, the long-term molecular and behavioral function of MgSO4 has not been fully elucidated. Here, we investigated the long-term effect of antenatal MgSO4 , during late gestation, on offspring's behavior focusing on cognitive function, motor activity, and social cognition in adolescence and adulthood, and explored its influence on brain gene expression (e.g., ErbB signaling, pro-inflammatory, and dopaminergic markers) in adulthood. A significant abnormal exploratory behavior of offspring of MgSO4 -treated dams was found compared to the control group in both adolescence and adulthood. Furthermore, we found that adult females exposed to MgSO4 under inflammation displayed working and recognition memory impairment. A reduction in IL-6 expression was detected in the prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus specimens derived from LPS-Mg-treated group. In contrast, an imbalanced expression of dopamine 1 and 2 receptors was detected only in prefrontal cortex specimens. Besides, we found that MgSO4 ameliorated the overexpression of the Nrg1 and Erbb4 receptors induced by LPS in the hippocampus. Thus, MgSO4 treatment for preventing brain injuries can adversely affect offspring cognition behavior later in life, depending on the sex and age of the offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fadwa Dabbah-Assadi
- Psychobiology Research Laboratory, Mazor Mental Health Center, Akko, Israel.,The Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Sally Rashid
- Department of Biotechnology Engineering, ORT Braude College, Karmiel, Israel
| | - Idit Golani
- Department of Biotechnology Engineering, ORT Braude College, Karmiel, Israel
| | - Alon Rubinstein
- Faculty of Medicine in the Galilee, Bar-Ilan University, Zefat, Israel
| | - Ravid Doron
- Department of Education and Psychology, the Open University, Raanana, Israel
| | - David Alon
- Psychobiology Research Laboratory, Mazor Mental Health Center, Akko, Israel
| | - Eilam Palzur
- The Neuroscience Laboratory, Galilee Medical Center Research Institute, Nahariya, Israel
| | - Ron Beloosesky
- The Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Israel
| | - Alon Shamir
- Psychobiology Research Laboratory, Mazor Mental Health Center, Akko, Israel.,The Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
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2
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Raymann S, Schalbetter SM, Schaer R, Bernhardt AC, Mueller FS, Meyer U, Weber-Stadlbauer U. Late prenatal immune activation in mice induces transgenerational effects via the maternal and paternal lineages. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:2273-2286. [PMID: 36857721 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhac207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 04/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Prenatal exposure to infectious or noninfectious immune activation is an environmental risk factor for neurodevelopmental disorders and mental illnesses. Recent research using animal models suggests that maternal immune activation (MIA) during early to middle stages of pregnancy can induce transgenerational effects on brain and behavior, likely via inducing stable epigenetic modifications across generations. Using a mouse model of viral-like MIA, which is based on gestational treatment with poly(I:C), the present study explored whether transgenerational effects can also emerge when MIA occurs in late pregnancy. Our findings demonstrate that the direct descendants born to poly(I:C)-treated mothers display deficits in temporal order memory, which are similarly present in second- and third-generation offspring. These transgenerational effects were mediated via both the maternal and paternal lineages and were accompanied by transient changes in maternal care. In addition to the cognitive effects, late prenatal immune activation induced generation-spanning effects on the prefrontal expression of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic genes, including parvalbumin and distinct alpha-subunits of the GABAA receptor. Together, our results suggest that MIA in late pregnancy has the potential to affect cognitive functions and prefrontal gene expression patterns in multiple generations, highlighting its role in shaping disease risk across generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Raymann
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sina M Schalbetter
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ron Schaer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Alexandra C Bernhardt
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Flavia S Mueller
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Urs Meyer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.,Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ulrike Weber-Stadlbauer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.,Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
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3
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Potter HG, Kowash HM, Woods RM, Revill G, Grime A, Deeney B, Burgess MA, Aarons T, Glazier JD, Neill JC, Hager R. Maternal behaviours and adult offspring behavioural deficits are predicted by maternal TNFα concentration in a rat model of neurodevelopmental disorders. Brain Behav Immun 2023; 108:162-175. [PMID: 36503051 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2022.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposure to inflammatory stressors during fetal development is a major risk factor for neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) in adult offspring. Maternal immune activation (MIA), induced by infection, causes an acute increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines which can increase the risk for NDDs directly by inducing placental and fetal brain inflammation, or indirectly through affecting maternal care behaviours thereby affecting postnatal brain development. Which of these two potential mechanisms dominates in increasing offspring risk for NDDs remains unclear. Here, we show that acute systemic maternal inflammation induced by the viral mimetic polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly I:C) on gestational day 15 of rat pregnancy affects offspring and maternal behaviour, offspring cognition, and expression of NDD-relevant genes in the offspring brain. Dams exposed to poly I:C elicited an acute increase in the pro-inflammatory cytokine tumour necrosis factor (TNF; referred to here as TNFα), which predicted disruption of key maternal care behaviours. Offspring of poly I:C-treated dams showed early behavioural and adult cognitive deficits correlated to the maternal TNFα response, but, importantly, not with altered maternal care. We also found interacting effects of sex and treatment on GABAergic gene expression and DNA methylation in these offspring in a brain region-specific manner, including increased parvalbumin expression in the female adolescent frontal cortex. We conclude that the MIA-induced elevation of TNFα in the maternal compartment affects fetal neurodevelopment leading to altered offspring behaviour and cognition. Our results suggest that a focus on prenatal pathways affecting fetal neurodevelopment would provide greater insights into the mechanisms underpinning the TNFα-mediated genesis of altered offspring behaviour and cognition following maternal inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harry G Potter
- Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom; School of Medicine, University of Central Lancashire, Burnley BB11 1RA, United Kingdom.
| | - Hager M Kowash
- Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre, Division of Developmental Biology and Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, St Mary's Hospital, Manchester M13 9WL, United Kingdom
| | - Rebecca M Woods
- Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Grace Revill
- Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Amy Grime
- Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Brendan Deeney
- Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew A Burgess
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Toby Aarons
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Jocelyn D Glazier
- Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Joanna C Neill
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom; Chair of Medical Psychedelics Working Group, Drug Science, United Kingdom
| | - Reinmar Hager
- Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
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Abu-Ata S, Shukha ON, Awad-Igbaria Y, Ginat K, Palzur E, Golani I, Shamir A. Blocking the ErbB pathway during adolescence affects the induction of anxiety-like behavior in young adult maternal immune activation offspring. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2023; 222:173497. [PMID: 36460130 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2022.173497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Epidemiological and experimental evidence demonstrates that maternal exposure to infection during gestation increases the offspring's risk of developing schizophrenia and other neurodevelopmental disorders. In addition, the NRG-ErbB4 signaling pathway is involved in brain development and neuropsychiatric disorders. Specifically, this pathway modulates the dopaminergic and GABAergic systems and is expressed in the early stages of prenatal development. We recently demonstrated that maternal immune activation (MIA) at late gestation altered the expression of NRG1, its receptor ErbB4, and the dopamine D2 receptor four hours post-injection of viral or LPS in the fetal brain. We also reported that blocking the ErbB pathway during adolescence resulted in increased striatal DA content and reduced preference for sweetness and alcohol that persists into adulthood. However, the combined effects of MIA, re-activation of the immune system, and disruption of the ErbB signaling during adolescence would affect young adult mice's behavioral phenotype is unknown. Here, we report that the expression levels of the NRG1, ErbB4, GAD67, and BDNF were changed as responses to MIA and blocked the ErbB signaling in the frontal cortex of adolescent mice. MIA-Offspring during late gestation and immune system re-activation during adolescence spent less time in the open arms of the elevated plus-maze in adulthood. At the same time, MIA-offspring administrated with the pan-ErbB inhibitor during adolescence spent the same amount of time in the opened arm as the control mice. Combining the ErbB signaling disruption during adolescence leads to a social interaction impairment in female offspring, but not male, without affecting the offspring's motor activity, long-term recognition, and working memory. These results imply that blocking the ErbB signaling during adolescence prevents the development of anxiety-like behavior of the MIA offspring later in life and suggest that this interaction does not reduce the risk of female MIA offspring developing impaired social behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saher Abu-Ata
- Psychobiology Research Laboratory, Mazor Mental Health Center, Akko, Israel; The Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Orya Noa Shukha
- Psychobiology Research Laboratory, Mazor Mental Health Center, Akko, Israel; The Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Yaseen Awad-Igbaria
- Faculty of Medicine in the Galilee, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel; The Research Institute of Galilee Medical Center, Nahariya, Israel
| | - Karen Ginat
- Psychobiology Research Laboratory, Mazor Mental Health Center, Akko, Israel
| | - Eilam Palzur
- The Research Institute of Galilee Medical Center, Nahariya, Israel
| | - Idit Golani
- Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Braude - College of Engineering, Karmiel, Israel
| | - Alon Shamir
- Psychobiology Research Laboratory, Mazor Mental Health Center, Akko, Israel; The Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
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5
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Dabbah-Assadi F, Handel R, Shamir A. What we know about the role of corticosteroids in psychiatric disorders; evidence from animal and clinical studies. J Psychiatr Res 2022; 155:363-370. [PMID: 36182765 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.09.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Corticosteroids, often known as steroids, are anti-inflammatory medicine prescribed for various conditions. There is accumulating evidence of immune dysregulation in major psychiatric disorders. Significant changes in concentrations of inflammatory biomarkers (i.e., IL-6 and TNF-a) have been previously reported in individuals with schizophrenia, autistic individuals, and depressive patients. Thus, systemic corticosteroids can be used as an adjuvant treatment to reduce inflammation in major psychiatric disorders. However, despite their well-known potent anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant properties, this treatment is often associated with increased severity of several psychiatric symptoms and relapse. This article reviews the available literature on psychiatric and cognitive changes during corticosteroid therapy. Specifically, we will provide data on the good and the bad of corticosteroid therapy in autism, schizophrenia, mood disorders, and PTSD. This review will summarize the vital role of corticosteroid therapy in social and cognitive behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fadwa Dabbah-Assadi
- Psychobiology Research Laboratory, Mazor Mental Health Center, Akko, Israel; The Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Ran Handel
- Faculty of Medicine in the Galilee, Bar-Ilan University, Zefat, Israel
| | - Alon Shamir
- Psychobiology Research Laboratory, Mazor Mental Health Center, Akko, Israel; The Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
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6
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Astorkia M, Lachman HM, Zheng D. Characterization of cell-cell communication in autistic brains with single-cell transcriptomes. J Neurodev Disord 2022; 14:29. [PMID: 35501678 PMCID: PMC9059394 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-022-09441-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder, affecting 1–2% of children. Studies have revealed genetic and cellular abnormalities in the brains of affected individuals, leading to both regional and distal cell communication deficits. Methods Recent application of single-cell technologies, especially single-cell transcriptomics, has significantly expanded our understanding of brain cell heterogeneity and further demonstrated that multiple cell types and brain layers or regions are perturbed in autism. The underlying high-dimensional single-cell data provides opportunities for multilevel computational analysis that collectively can better deconvolute the molecular and cellular events altered in autism. Here, we apply advanced computation and pattern recognition approaches on single-cell RNA-seq data to infer and compare inter-cell-type signaling communications in autism brains and controls. Results Our results indicate that at a global level, there are cell-cell communication differences in autism in comparison with controls, largely involving neurons as both signaling senders and receivers, but glia also contribute to the communication disruption. Although the magnitude of changes is moderate, we find that excitatory and inhibitor neurons are involved in multiple intercellular signaling that exhibits increased strengths in autism, such as NRXN and CNTN signaling. Not all genes in the intercellular signaling pathways show differential expression, but genes in the affected pathways are enriched for axon guidance, synapse organization, neuron migration, and other critical cellular functions. Furthermore, those genes are highly connected to and enriched for genes previously associated with autism risks. Conclusions Overall, our proof-of-principle computational study using single-cell data uncovers key intercellular signaling pathways that are potentially disrupted in the autism brains, suggesting that more studies examining cross-cell type effects can be valuable for understanding autism pathogenesis. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s11689-022-09441-1.
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Nakamura JP, Schroeder A, Gibbons A, Sundram S, Hill RA. Timing of maternal immune activation and sex influence schizophrenia-relevant cognitive constructs and neuregulin and GABAergic pathways. Brain Behav Immun 2022; 100:70-82. [PMID: 34808289 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2021.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 10/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Maternal immune activation (MIA) during pregnancy is an established environmental risk factor for schizophrenia. Timing of immune activation exposure as well as sex of the exposed offspring are critical factors in defining the effects of MIA. However, the specificity of MIA on the component structure of schizophrenia, especially cognition, has been difficult to assess due to a lack of translational validity of maze-like testing paradigms. We aimed to assess cognitive domains relevant to schizophrenia using highly translational touchscreen-based tasks in male and female mice exposed to the viral mimetic, poly(I:C) (5 mg/k, i.p.), during early (gestational day (GD) 9-11) and late (GD13-15) gestational time points. Gene expression of schizophrenia candidate pathways were assessed in fetal brain immediately following poly(I:C) exposure and in adulthood to identify its influence on neurodevelopmental processes. Sex and window specific alterations in cognitive performance were found with the early window of MIA exposure causing female-specific disruptions to working memory and reduced perseverative behaviour, while late MIA exposure caused male-specific changes to working memory and deficits in reversal learning. GABAergic specification marker, Nkx2.1 gene expression was reduced in fetal brains and reelin expression was reduced in adult hippocampus of both early and late poly(I:C) exposed mice. Neuregulin and EGF signalling were initially upregulated in the fetal brain, but were reduced in the adult hippocampus, with male mice exposed in the late window showing reduced Nrg3 expression. Serine racemase was reduced in both fetal and adult brain, but again, adult reductions were specific to male mice exposed at the late time point. Overall, we show that cognitive constructs relevant to schizophrenia are altered by in utero exposure to maternal immune activation, but are highly dependent on the timing of infection and the sex of the offspring. Glutamatergic and epidermal growth factor pathways were similarly altered by MIA in a timing and sex dependent manner, while MIA-induced GABAergic deficits were independent of timing or sex.
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Affiliation(s)
- J P Nakamura
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
| | - A Schroeder
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
| | - A Gibbons
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
| | - S Sundram
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia; Mental Health Program, Monash Health, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
| | - R A Hill
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia.
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8
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Sato A, Kotajima-Murakami H, Tanaka M, Katoh Y, Ikeda K. Influence of Prenatal Drug Exposure, Maternal Inflammation, and Parental Aging on the Development of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:821455. [PMID: 35222122 PMCID: PMC8863673 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.821455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects reciprocal social interaction and produces abnormal repetitive, restrictive behaviors and interests. The diverse causes of ASD are divided into genetic alterations and environmental risks. The prevalence of ASD has been rising for several decades, which might be related to environmental risks as it is difficult to consider that the prevalence of genetic disorders related to ASD would increase suddenly. The latter includes (1) exposure to medications, such as valproic acid (VPA) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) (2), maternal complications during pregnancy, including infection and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, and (3) high parental age. Epidemiological studies have indicated a pathogenetic role of prenatal exposure to VPA and maternal inflammation in the development of ASD. VPA is considered to exert its deleterious effects on the fetal brain through several distinct mechanisms, such as alterations of γ-aminobutyric acid signaling, the inhibition of histone deacetylase, the disruption of folic acid metabolism, and the activation of mammalian target of rapamycin. Maternal inflammation that is caused by different stimuli converges on a higher load of proinflammatory cytokines in the fetal brain. Rodent models of maternal exposure to SSRIs generate ASD-like behavior in offspring, but clinical correlations with these preclinical findings are inconclusive. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and advanced parental age increase the risk of ASD in humans, but the mechanisms have been poorly investigated in animal models. Evidence of the mechanisms by which environmental factors are related to ASD is discussed, which may contribute to the development of preventive and therapeutic interventions for ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atsushi Sato
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.,Addictive Substance Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Miho Tanaka
- Addictive Substance Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Psychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshihisa Katoh
- Addictive Substance Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazutaka Ikeda
- Addictive Substance Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
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9
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Bao M, Hofsink N, Plösch T. LPS vs. Poly I:C Model: Comparison of Long-Term Effects of Bacterial and Viral Maternal Immune Activation (MIA) on the Offspring. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2021; 322:R99-R111. [PMID: 34874190 PMCID: PMC8782664 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00087.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
A prominent health issue nowadays is the COVID-19 pandemic, which poses acute risks to human health. However, the long-term health consequences are largely unknown and cannot be neglected. An especially vulnerable period for infection is pregnancy, when infections could have long-term health effect on the child. Evidence suggests that maternal immune activation (MIA) induced by either bacteria or viruses presents various effects on the offspring, leading to adverse phenotypes in many organ systems. This review compares the mechanisms of bacterial and viral MIA and the possible long-term outcomes for the offspring by summarizing the outcome in animal LPS and Poly I:C models. Both models are activated immune responses mediated by Toll-like receptors. The outcomes for MIA offspring include neurodevelopment, immune response, circulation, metabolism, and reproduction. Some of these changes continue to exist until later life. Besides different doses and batches of LPS and Poly I:C, the injection day, administration route, and also different animal species influence the outcomes. Here, we specifically aim to support colleagues when choosing their animal models for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mian Bao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Naomi Hofsink
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Torsten Plösch
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.,Perinatal Neurobiology, Department of Human Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
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10
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Woods RM, Lorusso JM, Potter HG, Neill JC, Glazier JD, Hager R. Maternal immune activation in rodent models: A systematic review of neurodevelopmental changes in gene expression and epigenetic modulation in the offspring brain. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 129:389-421. [PMID: 34280428 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Maternal immune activation (mIA) during pregnancy is hypothesised to disrupt offspring neurodevelopment and predispose offspring to neurodevelopmental disorders such as schizophrenia. Rodent models of mIA have explored possible mechanisms underlying this paradigm and provide a vital tool for preclinical research. However, a comprehensive analysis of the molecular changes that occur in mIA-models is lacking, hindering identification of robust clinical targets. This systematic review assesses mIA-driven transcriptomic and epigenomic alterations in specific offspring brain regions. Across 118 studies, we focus on 88 candidate genes and show replicated changes in expression in critical functional areas, including elevated inflammatory markers, and reduced myelin and GABAergic signalling proteins. Further, disturbed epigenetic markers at nine of these genes support mIA-driven epigenetic modulation of transcription. Overall, our results demonstrate that current outcome measures have direct relevance for the hypothesised pathology of schizophrenia and emphasise the importance of mIA-models in contributing to the understanding of biological pathways impacted by mIA and the discovery of new drug targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca M Woods
- Division of Evolution & Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Center, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, United Kingdom.
| | - Jarred M Lorusso
- Division of Evolution & Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Center, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Harry G Potter
- Division of Evolution & Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Center, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Joanna C Neill
- Division of Pharmacy & Optometry, School of Health Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Center, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, United Kingdom
| | - Jocelyn D Glazier
- Division of Evolution & Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Center, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Reinmar Hager
- Division of Evolution & Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Center, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, United Kingdom
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11
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Abstract
As a highly social species, inclusion in social networks and the presence of strong social bonds are critical to our health and well-being. Indeed, impaired social functioning is a component of numerous neuropsychiatric disorders including depression, anxiety, and substance use disorder. During the current COVID-19 pandemic, our social networks are at risk of fracture and many are vulnerable to the negative consequences of social isolation. Importantly, infection itself leads to changes in social behavior as a component of "sickness behavior." Furthermore, as in the case of COVID-19, males and females often differ in their immunological response to infection, and, therefore, in their susceptibility to negative outcomes. In this review, we discuss the many ways in which infection changes social behavior-sometimes to the benefit of the host, and in some instances for the sake of the pathogen-in species ranging from eusocial insects to humans. We also explore the neuroimmune mechanisms by which these changes in social behavior occur. Finally, we touch upon the ways in which the social environment (group living, social isolation, etc.) shapes the immune system and its ability to respond to challenge. Throughout we emphasize how males and females differ in their response to immune activation, both behaviorally and physiologically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline J Smith
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Staci D Bilbo
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
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12
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Notaras M, Lodhi A, Barrio-Alonso E, Foord C, Rodrick T, Jones D, Fang H, Greening D, Colak D. Neurodevelopmental signatures of narcotic and neuropsychiatric risk factors in 3D human-derived forebrain organoids. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:7760-83. [PMID: 34158620 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-021-01189-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
It is widely accepted that narcotic use during pregnancy and specific environmental factors (e.g., maternal immune activation and chronic stress) may increase risk of neuropsychiatric illness in offspring. However, little progress has been made in defining human-specific in utero neurodevelopmental pathology due to ethical and technical challenges associated with accessing human prenatal brain tissue. Here we utilized human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) to generate reproducible organoids that recapitulate dorsal forebrain development including early corticogenesis. We systemically exposed organoid samples to chemically defined "enviromimetic" compounds to examine the developmental effects of various narcotic and neuropsychiatric-related risk factors within tissue of human origin. In tandem experiments conducted in parallel, we modeled exposure to opiates (μ-opioid agonist endomorphin), cannabinoids (WIN 55,212-2), alcohol (ethanol), smoking (nicotine), chronic stress (human cortisol), and maternal immune activation (human Interleukin-17a; IL17a). Human-derived dorsal forebrain organoids were consequently analyzed via an array of unbiased and high-throughput analytical approaches, including state-of-the-art TMT-16plex liquid chromatography/mass-spectrometry (LC/MS) proteomics, hybrid MS metabolomics, and flow cytometry panels to determine cell-cycle dynamics and rates of cell death. This pipeline subsequently revealed both common and unique proteome, reactome, and metabolome alterations as a consequence of enviromimetic modeling of narcotic use and neuropsychiatric-related risk factors in tissue of human origin. However, of our 6 treatment groups, human-derived organoids treated with the cannabinoid agonist WIN 55,212-2 exhibited the least convergence of all groups. Single-cell analysis revealed that WIN 55,212-2 increased DNA fragmentation, an indicator of apoptosis, in human-derived dorsal forebrain organoids. We subsequently confirmed induction of DNA damage and apoptosis by WIN 55,212-2 within 3D human-derived dorsal forebrain organoids. Lastly, in a BrdU pulse-chase neocortical neurogenesis paradigm, we identified that WIN 55,212-2 was the only enviromimetic treatment to disrupt newborn neuron numbers within human-derived dorsal forebrain organoids. Cumulatively this study serves as both a resource and foundation from which human 3D biologics can be used to resolve the non-genomic effects of neuropsychiatric risk factors under controlled laboratory conditions. While synthetic cannabinoids can differ from naturally occurring compounds in their effects, our data nonetheless suggests that exposure to WIN 55,212-2 elicits neurotoxicity within human-derived developing forebrain tissue. These human-derived data therefore support the long-standing belief that maternal use of cannabinoids may require caution so to avoid any potential neurodevelopmental effects upon developing offspring in utero.
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13
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Dabbah-Assadi F, Khatib N, Ginsberg Y, Weiner Z, Shamir A, Beloosesky R. Short-Term Effect of MgSO 4 on the Expression of NRG-ErbB, Dopamine, GABA, and Glutamate Systems in the Fetal Rat Brain. J Mol Neurosci 2020; 71:446-454. [PMID: 32691278 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-020-01665-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
MgSO4 has been used for the past two decades as neuroprotective treatment in a variety of preterm conditions. Despite the putative advantages of MgSO4 as a neuroprotective agent in the preterm brain, the short- and long-term molecular function of MgSO4 as a neuroprotective agent has not been fully elucidated. Neuregulin (NRG1)-ErbB4 signaling plays a critical role in embryonic brain development, in the biology of dopaminergic, GABAergic, and glutamatergic systems. We hypothesize that this pathway may be associated with the neuroprotective role of MgSO4. The current study aims to investigate the ability of MgSO4 to modulate the normal developing expression pattern of selected genes related to the NRG1-ErbB, dopaminergic, GABAergic, and glutamatergic systems. We demonstrate that overall short-term treatment of dam rats with MgSO4 affects the expression of fetal brain NRG1, NRG3, ErbB4, GAD67, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), dopamine D2 and D1 receptors, GluN1, and GluN2B. More specifically, the administration of MgSO4 alters the expression of NRG-ErbB, GAD67, TH, and D2R at early gestation day 16 (GD16) regardless of the activation of the maternal immune system by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Our data suggest that MgSO4 treatment may affect the expression of major neuronal systems and pathways mostly at an early gestation day. These changes might be an initial clue (foundation stone) in the molecular mechanism that underlies the beneficial effect of MgSO4 as a neuroprotective agent for the developmental brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fadwa Dabbah-Assadi
- Psychobiology Research Laboratory, Mazor Mental Health Center, D.N. Oshrat, 25201, Akko, Israel.,The Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Nazar Khatib
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rambam Medical Center, D.N. Haaleya Hashniya, 3525408, Haifa, Israel
| | - Yuval Ginsberg
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rambam Medical Center, D.N. Haaleya Hashniya, 3525408, Haifa, Israel
| | - Ze'ev Weiner
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rambam Medical Center, D.N. Haaleya Hashniya, 3525408, Haifa, Israel
| | - Alon Shamir
- Psychobiology Research Laboratory, Mazor Mental Health Center, D.N. Oshrat, 25201, Akko, Israel. .,The Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
| | - Ron Beloosesky
- The Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel. .,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rambam Medical Center, D.N. Haaleya Hashniya, 3525408, Haifa, Israel.
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14
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Patel CD, Backes IM, Taylor SA, Jiang Y, Marchant A, Pesola JM, Coen DM, Knipe DM, Ackerman ME, Leib DA. Maternal immunization confers protection against neonatal herpes simplex mortality and behavioral morbidity. Sci Transl Med 2020; 11:11/487/eaau6039. [PMID: 30971454 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aau6039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2018] [Revised: 11/30/2018] [Accepted: 01/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Neonatal herpes simplex virus (nHSV) infections cause devastating morbidity and mortality in infants. Most nHSV cases are associated with primary maternal infection, consistent with the hypothesis that maternal immunity is protective. In humans, we found HSV-specific neutralizing antibodies in newborns of immune mothers, indicating that placentally transferred HSV-specific antibody is protective. Using a murine model, we showed that passive administration of HSV-specific antibody to dams prevented disseminated infection and mortality in pups. Maternal immunization with an HSV-2 replication-defective vaccine candidate, dl5-29, led to transfer of HSV-specific antibodies into neonatal circulation that protected against nHSV neurological disease and death. Furthermore, we observed considerable anxiety-like behavior in adult mice that had been infected with low doses of HSV as neonates, despite a notable lack of signs of infection. This phenotype suggests that nHSV infection can have an unsuspected and permanent impact on behavior. These behavioral sequelae of nHSV were prevented by maternal immunization with dl5-29, demonstrating an unexpected benefit of immunization. These findings also support the general concept that maternal immunization can prevent neurotropic neonatal infections and associated morbidity and mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaya D Patel
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA.,Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Iara M Backes
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA.,Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Sean A Taylor
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA
| | - Yike Jiang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA
| | - Arnaud Marchant
- Institute for Medical Immunology, Université libre de Bruxelles, Charleroi B-6041, Belgium
| | - Jean M Pesola
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Donald M Coen
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - David M Knipe
- Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | | | - David A Leib
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA.
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15
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW In the past decade, there has been increasing interest in the potential benefit of early intervention in schizophrenia. Patients with schizophrenia show cognitive impairment for several years preceding the onset of psychosis. The author discusses the recent topics on prevention of schizophrenia. RECENT FINDINGS Preclinical findings suggest that maternal immune activation (MIA) produces cognitive deficits as a prodromal symptom in juvenile offspring in rodents. Treatment with anti-inflammatory compounds, such as D-serine, 7,8-dihydroxyflavone (a TrkB agonist), sulforaphane (or its precursor glucoraphanin), and TPPU (1-trifluoromethoxyphenyl-3-(1-propionylpiperidin-4-yl) urea: a soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitor), during adolescence might prevent the onset of behavioral abnormalities and parvalbumin immunoreactivity in the medial prefrontal cortex of adult offspring after MIA. Based on the role of inflammation and cognitive impairment in the prodromal state, early intervention using anti-inflammatory compounds (i.e., D-serine, sodium benzoate, TrkB agonist, Nrf2 agonist, soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitor) may reduce the risk of subsequent transition to schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenji Hashimoto
- Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Chiba University Center for Forensic Mental Health, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan.
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