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Wang X, Wen X, Yuan S, Zhang J. Gut-brain axis in the pathogenesis of sepsis-associated encephalopathy. Neurobiol Dis 2024; 195:106499. [PMID: 38588753 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2024.106499] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Revised: 03/31/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The gut-brain axis is a bidirectional communication network linking the gut and the brain, overseeing digestive functions, emotional responses, body immunity, brain development, and overall health. Substantial research highlights a connection between disruptions of the gut-brain axis and various psychiatric and neurological conditions, including depression and Alzheimer's disease. Given the impact of the gut-brain axis on behavior, cognition, and brain diseases, some studies have started to pay attention to the role of the axis in sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE), where cognitive impairment is the primary manifestation. SAE emerges as the primary and earliest form of organ dysfunction following sepsis, potentially leading to acute cognitive impairment and long-term cognitive decline in patients. Notably, the neuronal damage in SAE does not stem directly from the central nervous system (CNS) infection but rather from an infection occurring outside the brain. The gut-brain axis is posited as a pivotal factor in this process. This review will delve into the gut-brain axis, exploring four crucial pathways through which inflammatory signals are transmitted and elevate the incidence of SAE. These pathways encompass the vagus nerve pathway, the neuroendocrine pathway involving the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and serotonin (5-HT) regulation, the neuroimmune pathway, and the microbial regulation. These pathways can operate independently or collaboratively on the CNS to modulate brain activity. Understanding how the gut affects and regulates the CNS could offer the potential to identify novel targets for preventing and treating this condition, ultimately enhancing the prognosis for individuals with SAE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Wang
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, PR China; Institute of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, PR China
| | - Xiaoyue Wen
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, PR China; Institute of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, PR China
| | - Shiying Yuan
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, PR China; Institute of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, PR China.
| | - Jiancheng Zhang
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, PR China; Institute of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, PR China.
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2
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Saednia S, Emami S, Moslehi M, Hosseinimehr SJ. Insights into the development of 99mTc-radioligands for serotonergic receptors imaging: Synthesis, labeling, In vitro, and In vivo studies. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 270:116349. [PMID: 38555856 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116349] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Serotonergic (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) receptors play critical roles in neurological and psychological disorders such as schizophrenia, anxiety, depression, and Alzheimer's diseases. Therefore, it is particularly important to develop novel radioligands or modify the existing ones to identify the serotonergic receptors involved in psychiatric disorders. Among the 16 subtypes of serotonergic systems, only technetium-99m based radiopharmaceuticals have been evaluated for serotonin-1A (5-HT1A), serotonin-2A (5-HT2A), 5-HT1A/7 heterodimers and serotonin receptor neurotransmitter (SERT). This review focuses on recent efforts in the design, synthesis and evaluation of 99mTc-radioligands used for single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) imaging of serotonergic (5-HT) receptors. Additionally, the discussion will cover aspects such as chemical structure, in vitro/vivo stability, affinity toward serotonin receptors, blood-brain barrier permeation (BBB), and biodistribution study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahnaz Saednia
- Farabi Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran; Department of Radiopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Saeed Emami
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Masoud Moslehi
- Department of Medical Physics, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Seyed Jalal Hosseinimehr
- Department of Radiopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
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3
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Wiesman AI, da Silva Castanheira J, Fon EA, Baillet S. Alterations of Cortical Structure and Neurophysiology in Parkinson's Disease Are Aligned with Neurochemical Systems. Ann Neurol 2024; 95:802-816. [PMID: 38146745 PMCID: PMC11023768 DOI: 10.1002/ana.26871] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Parkinson's disease (PD) affects the structural integrity and neurophysiological signaling of the cortex. These alterations are related to the motor and cognitive symptoms of the disease. How these changes are related to the neurochemical systems of the cortex is unknown. METHODS We used T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetoencephalography (MEG) to measure cortical thickness and task-free neurophysiological activity in patients with idiopathic PD (nMEG = 79, nMRI = 65) and matched healthy controls (nMEG = 65, nMRI = 37). Using linear mixed-effects models, we examined the topographical alignment of cortical structural and neurophysiological alterations in PD with cortical atlases of 19 neurotransmitter receptor and transporter densities. RESULTS We found that neurophysiological alterations in PD occur primarily in brain regions rich in acetylcholinergic, serotonergic, and glutamatergic systems, with protective implications for cognitive and psychiatric symptoms. In contrast, cortical thinning occurs preferentially in regions rich in noradrenergic systems, and the strength of this alignment relates to motor deficits. INTERPRETATION This study shows that the spatial organization of neurophysiological and structural alterations in PD is relevant for nonmotor and motor impairments. The data also advance the identification of the neurochemical systems implicated. The approach uses novel nested atlas modeling methodology that is transferrable to research in other neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases and syndromes. ANN NEUROL 2024;95:802-816.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex I. Wiesman
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | | | - Edward A. Fon
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Sylvain Baillet
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
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4
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Wegiel J, Chadman K, London E, Wisniewski T, Wegiel J. Contribution of the serotonergic system to developmental brain abnormalities in autism spectrum disorder. Autism Res 2024. [PMID: 38500252 DOI: 10.1002/aur.3123] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
This review highlights a key role of the serotonergic system in brain development and in distortions of normal brain development in early stages of fetal life resulting in cascades of abnormalities, including defects of neurogenesis, neuronal migration, neuronal growth, differentiation, and arborization, as well as defective neuronal circuit formation in the cortex, subcortical structures, brainstem, and cerebellum of autistic subjects. In autism, defects in regulation of neuronal growth are the most frequent and ubiquitous developmental changes associated with impaired neuron differentiation, smaller size, distorted shape, loss of spatial orientation, and distortion of cortex organization. Common developmental defects of the brain in autism include multiregional focal dysplastic changes contributing to local neuronal circuit distortion, epileptogenic activity, and epilepsy. There is a discrepancy between more than 500 reports demonstrating the contribution of the serotonergic system to autism's behavioral anomalies, highlighted by lack of studies of autistic subjects' brainstem raphe nuclei, the center of brain serotonergic innervation, and of the contribution of the serotonergic system to the diagnostic features of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Discovery of severe fetal brainstem auditory system neuronal deficits and other anomalies leading to a spectrum of hearing deficits contributing to a cascade of behavioral alterations, including deficits of social and verbal communication in individuals with autism, is another argument to intensify postmortem studies of the type and topography of, and the severity of developmental defects in raphe nuclei and their contribution to abnormal brain development and to the broad spectrum of functional deficits and comorbid conditions in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jarek Wegiel
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island, New York, USA
| | - Kathryn Chadman
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island, New York, USA
| | - Eric London
- Department of Psychology, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island, New York, USA
| | - Thomas Wisniewski
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island, New York, USA
- Center for Cognitive Neurology, Department of Neurology, Pathology and Psychiatry, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Jerzy Wegiel
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island, New York, USA
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5
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De Filippo R, Schmitz D. Synthetic surprise as the foundation of the psychedelic experience. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 157:105538. [PMID: 38220035 PMCID: PMC10839673 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105538] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
Psychedelic agents, such as LSD and psilocybin, induce marked alterations in consciousness via activation of the 5-HT2A receptor (5-HT2ARs). We hypothesize that psychedelics enforce a state of synthetic surprise through the biased activation of the 5-HTRs system. This idea is informed by recent insights into the role of 5-HT in signaling surprise. The effects on consciousness, explained by the cognitive penetrability of perception, can be described within the predictive coding framework where surprise corresponds to prediction error, the mismatch between predictions and actual sensory input. Crucially, the precision afforded to the prediction error determines its effect on priors, enabling a dynamic interaction between top-down expectations and incoming sensory data. By integrating recent findings on predictive coding circuitry and 5-HT2ARs transcriptomic data, we propose a biological implementation with emphasis on the role of inhibitory interneurons. Implications arise for the clinical use of psychedelics, which may rely primarily on their inherent capacity to induce surprise in order to disrupt maladaptive patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto De Filippo
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Neuroscience Research Center, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Dietmar Schmitz
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Neuroscience Research Center, 10117 Berlin, Germany; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Einstein Center for Neuroscience, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience, Philippstr. 13, 10115 Berlin, Germany
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6
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Gast R, Solla SA, Kennedy A. Neural heterogeneity controls computations in spiking neural networks. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2311885121. [PMID: 38198531 PMCID: PMC10801870 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2311885121] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The brain is composed of complex networks of interacting neurons that express considerable heterogeneity in their physiology and spiking characteristics. How does this neural heterogeneity influence macroscopic neural dynamics, and how might it contribute to neural computation? In this work, we use a mean-field model to investigate computation in heterogeneous neural networks, by studying how the heterogeneity of cell spiking thresholds affects three key computational functions of a neural population: the gating, encoding, and decoding of neural signals. Our results suggest that heterogeneity serves different computational functions in different cell types. In inhibitory interneurons, varying the degree of spike threshold heterogeneity allows them to gate the propagation of neural signals in a reciprocally coupled excitatory population. Whereas homogeneous interneurons impose synchronized dynamics that narrow the dynamic repertoire of the excitatory neurons, heterogeneous interneurons act as an inhibitory offset while preserving excitatory neuron function. Spike threshold heterogeneity also controls the entrainment properties of neural networks to periodic input, thus affecting the temporal gating of synaptic inputs. Among excitatory neurons, heterogeneity increases the dimensionality of neural dynamics, improving the network's capacity to perform decoding tasks. Conversely, homogeneous networks suffer in their capacity for function generation, but excel at encoding signals via multistable dynamic regimes. Drawing from these findings, we propose intra-cell-type heterogeneity as a mechanism for sculpting the computational properties of local circuits of excitatory and inhibitory spiking neurons, permitting the same canonical microcircuit to be tuned for diverse computational tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Gast
- Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL60611
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD20815
| | - Sara A. Solla
- Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL60611
| | - Ann Kennedy
- Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL60611
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD20815
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7
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Finn ES, Poldrack RA, Shine JM. Functional neuroimaging as a catalyst for integrated neuroscience. Nature 2023; 623:263-273. [PMID: 37938706 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06670-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) enables non-invasive access to the awake, behaving human brain. By tracking whole-brain signals across a diverse range of cognitive and behavioural states or mapping differences associated with specific traits or clinical conditions, fMRI has advanced our understanding of brain function and its links to both normal and atypical behaviour. Despite this headway, progress in human cognitive neuroscience that uses fMRI has been relatively isolated from rapid advances in other subdomains of neuroscience, which themselves are also somewhat siloed from one another. In this Perspective, we argue that fMRI is well-placed to integrate the diverse subfields of systems, cognitive, computational and clinical neuroscience. We first summarize the strengths and weaknesses of fMRI as an imaging tool, then highlight examples of studies that have successfully used fMRI in each subdomain of neuroscience. We then provide a roadmap for the future advances that will be needed to realize this integrative vision. In this way, we hope to demonstrate how fMRI can help usher in a new era of interdisciplinary coherence in neuroscience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily S Finn
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Dartmouth, NH, USA.
| | | | - James M Shine
- School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
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8
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Winkelman MJ, Szabo A, Frecska E. The potential of psychedelics for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2023; 76:3-16. [PMID: 37451163 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2023.07.003] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a currently incurable but increasingly prevalent fatal and progressive neurodegenerative disease, demanding consideration of therapeutically relevant natural products and their synthetic analogues. This paper reviews evidence for effectiveness of natural and synthetic psychedelics in the treatment of AD causes and symptoms. The plastogenic effects of serotonergic psychedelics illustrate that they have efficacy for addressing multiple facets of AD pathology. We review findings illustrating neuroplasticity mechanisms of classic (serotonergic) and non-classic psychedelics that indicate their potential as treatments for AD and related dementias. Classic psychedelics modulate glutamatergic neurotransmission and stimulate synaptic and network remodeling that facilitates synaptic, structural and behavioral plasticity. Up-regulation of neurotrophic factors enable psychedelics to promote neuronal survival and glutamate-driven neuroplasticity. Muscimol modulation of GABAAR reduces Aβ-induced neurotoxicity and psychedelic Sig-1R agonists provide protective roles in Aβ toxicity. Classic psychedelics also activate mTOR intracellular effector pathways in brain regions that show atrophy in AD. The potential of psychedelics to treat AD involves their ability to induce structural and functional neural plasticity in brain circuits and slow or reverse brain atrophy. Psychedelics stimulate neurotrophic pathways, increase neurogenesis and produce long-lasting neural changes through rewiring pathological neurocircuitry. Psychedelic effects on 5-HT receptor target genes and induction of synaptic, structural, and functional changes in neurons and networks enable them to promote and enhance brain functional connectivity and address diverse mechanisms underlying degenerative neurological disorders. These findings provide a rationale for immediate investigation of psychedelics as treatments for AD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael James Winkelman
- School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Attila Szabo
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research (NORMENT), Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; KG Jebsen Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Ede Frecska
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
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9
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Johansen A, Armand S, Plavén-Sigray P, Nasser A, Ozenne B, Petersen IN, Keller SH, Madsen J, Beliveau V, Møller K, Vassilieva A, Langley C, Svarer C, Stenbæk DS, Sahakian BJ, Knudsen GM. Effects of escitalopram on synaptic density in the healthy human brain: a randomized controlled trial. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:4272-4279. [PMID: 37814129 PMCID: PMC10827655 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02285-8] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are widely used for treating neuropsychiatric disorders. However, the exact mechanism of action and why effects can take several weeks to manifest is not clear. The hypothesis of neuroplasticity is supported by preclinical studies, but the evidence in humans is limited. Here, we investigate the effects of the SSRI escitalopram on presynaptic density as a proxy for synaptic plasticity. In a double-blind placebo-controlled study (NCT04239339), 32 healthy participants with no history of psychiatric or cognitive disorders were randomized to receive daily oral dosing of either 20 mg escitalopram (n = 17) or a placebo (n = 15). After an intervention period of 3-5 weeks, participants underwent a [11C]UCB-J PET scan (29 with full arterial input function) to quantify synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A (SV2A) density in the hippocampus and the neocortex. Whereas we find no statistically significant group difference in SV2A binding after an average of 29 (range: 24-38) days of intervention, our secondary analyses show a time-dependent effect of escitalopram on cerebral SV2A binding with positive associations between [11C]UCB-J binding and duration of escitalopram intervention. Our findings suggest that brain synaptic plasticity evolves over 3-5 weeks in healthy humans following daily intake of escitalopram. This is the first in vivo evidence to support the hypothesis of neuroplasticity as a mechanism of action for SSRIs in humans and it offers a plausible biological explanation for the delayed treatment response commonly observed in patients treated with SSRIs. While replication is warranted, these results have important implications for the design of future clinical studies investigating the neurobiological effects of SSRIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annette Johansen
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sophia Armand
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Pontus Plavén-Sigray
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Arafat Nasser
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Brice Ozenne
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Public Health, Section of Biostatistics, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ida N Petersen
- Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sune H Keller
- Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jacob Madsen
- Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Vincent Beliveau
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Kirsten Møller
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Neuroanaesthesiology, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Alexandra Vassilieva
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Neuroanaesthesiology, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Claus Svarer
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Dea S Stenbæk
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Gitte M Knudsen
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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10
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Uselman TW, Jacobs RE, Bearer EL. Reconfiguration of brain-wide neural activity after early life adversity. bioRxiv 2023:2023.09.10.557058. [PMID: 38328213 PMCID: PMC10849645 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.10.557058] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Early life adversity (ELA) predisposes individuals to both physical and mental disorders lifelong. How ELA affects brain function leading to this vulnerability is under intense investigation. Research has begun to shed light on ELA effects on localized brain regions within defined circuits. However, investigations into brain-wide neural activity that includes multiple localized regions, determines relationships of activity between regions and identifies shifts of activity in response to experiential conditions is necessary. Here, we performed longitudinal manganese-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MEMRI) to image the brain in normally reared or ELA-exposed adults. Images were captured in the freely moving home cage condition, and short- and long-term after naturalistic threat. Images were analyzed with new computational methods, including automated segmentation and fractional activation or difference volumes. We found that neural activity was increased after ELA compared to normal rearing in multiple brain regions, some of which are involved in defensive and/or reward circuitry. Widely distributed patterns of neural activity, "brain states", and their dynamics after threat were altered with ELA. Upon acute threat, ELA-mice retained heightened neural activity within many of these regions, and new hyperactive responses emerged in monoaminergic centers of the mid- and hindbrain. Nine days after acute threat, heightened neural activity remained within locus coeruleus and increased within posterior amygdala, ventral hippocampus, and dorso- and ventromedial hypothalamus, while reduced activity emerged within medial prefrontal cortical regions (prelimbic, infralimbic, anterior cingulate). These results reveal that functional imbalances arise between multiple brain-systems which are dependent upon context and cumulative experiences after ELA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor W Uselman
- University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM 87131
| | - Russell E Jacobs
- Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033
- California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125
| | - Elaine L Bearer
- University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM 87131
- California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125
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11
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Feng YY, Bromberg-Martin ES, Monosov IE. Dorsal raphe neurons signal integrated value during multi-attribute decision-making. bioRxiv 2023:2023.08.17.553745. [PMID: 37662243 PMCID: PMC10473596 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.17.553745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
The dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) is implicated in psychiatric disorders that feature impaired sensitivity to reward amount, impulsivity when facing reward delays, and risk-seeking when grappling with reward uncertainty. However, whether and how DRN neurons signal reward amount, reward delay, and reward uncertainty during multi-attribute value-based decision-making, where subjects consider all these attributes to make a choice, is unclear. We recorded DRN neurons as monkeys chose between offers whose attributes, namely expected reward amount, reward delay, and reward uncertainty, varied independently. Many DRN neurons signaled offer attributes. Remarkably, these neurons commonly integrated offer attributes in a manner that reflected monkeys' overall preferences for amount, delay, and uncertainty. After decision-making, in response to post-decision feedback, these same neurons signaled signed reward prediction errors, suggesting a broader role in tracking value across task epochs and behavioral contexts. Our data illustrate how DRN participates in integrated value computations, guiding theories of DRN in decision-making and psychiatric disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang-Yang Feng
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | | | - Ilya E. Monosov
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Washington University Pain Center, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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12
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Dag U, Nwabudike I, Kang D, Gomes MA, Kim J, Atanas AA, Bueno E, Estrem C, Pugliese S, Wang Z, Towlson E, Flavell SW. Dissecting the functional organization of the C. elegans serotonergic system at whole-brain scale. Cell 2023; 186:2574-2592.e20. [PMID: 37192620 PMCID: PMC10484565 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.04.023] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Serotonin influences many aspects of animal behavior. But how serotonin acts on its diverse receptors across the brain to modulate global activity and behavior is unknown. Here, we examine how serotonin release in C. elegans alters brain-wide activity to induce foraging behaviors, like slow locomotion and increased feeding. Comprehensive genetic analyses identify three core serotonin receptors (MOD-1, SER-4, and LGC-50) that induce slow locomotion upon serotonin release and others (SER-1, SER-5, and SER-7) that interact with them to modulate this behavior. SER-4 induces behavioral responses to sudden increases in serotonin release, whereas MOD-1 induces responses to persistent release. Whole-brain imaging reveals widespread serotonin-associated brain dynamics, spanning many behavioral networks. We map all sites of serotonin receptor expression in the connectome, which, together with synaptic connectivity, helps predict which neurons show serotonin-associated activity. These results reveal how serotonin acts at defined sites across a connectome to modulate brain-wide activity and behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ugur Dag
- Picower Institute for Learning & Memory, Department of Brain & Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Ijeoma Nwabudike
- Picower Institute for Learning & Memory, Department of Brain & Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Di Kang
- Picower Institute for Learning & Memory, Department of Brain & Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Matthew A Gomes
- Picower Institute for Learning & Memory, Department of Brain & Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jungsoo Kim
- Picower Institute for Learning & Memory, Department of Brain & Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Adam A Atanas
- Picower Institute for Learning & Memory, Department of Brain & Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA; Computational and Systems Biology Program, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Eric Bueno
- Picower Institute for Learning & Memory, Department of Brain & Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Cassi Estrem
- Picower Institute for Learning & Memory, Department of Brain & Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Sarah Pugliese
- Picower Institute for Learning & Memory, Department of Brain & Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Ziyu Wang
- Picower Institute for Learning & Memory, Department of Brain & Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Emma Towlson
- Department of Computer Science, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Alberta Children's Research Hospital, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Steven W Flavell
- Picower Institute for Learning & Memory, Department of Brain & Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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Mlambo R, Liu J, Wang Q, Tan S, Chen C. Receptors Involved in Mental Disorders and the Use of Clozapine, Chlorpromazine, Olanzapine, and Aripiprazole to Treat Mental Disorders. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:ph16040603. [PMID: 37111360 PMCID: PMC10142280 DOI: 10.3390/ph16040603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [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: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Mental illnesses are a global health challenge, and effective medicines are needed to treat these conditions. Psychotropic drugs are commonly prescribed to manage mental disorders, such as schizophrenia, but unfortunately, they can cause significant and undesirable side effects, such as myocarditis, erectile dysfunction, and obesity. Furthermore, some schizophrenic patients may not respond to psychotropic drugs, a condition called schizophrenia-treatment resistance. Fortunately, clozapine is a promising option for patients who exhibit treatment resistance. Unlike chlorpromazine, scientists have found that clozapine has fewer neurological side effects. Additionally, olanzapine and aripiprazole are well-known for their moderating effects on psychosis and are widely used in clinical practice. To further maximize drug efficacy, it is critical to deeply understand the receptors or signaling pathways central to the nervous system, such as serotonin, histamine, trace amines, dopamine, and G-protein coupled receptors. This article provides an overview of the receptors mentioned above, as well as the antipsychotics that interact with them, such as olanzapine, aripiprazole, clozapine, and chlorpromazine. Additionally, this article discusses the general pharmacology of these medications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronald Mlambo
- Department of Pharmacy, Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China
| | - Jia Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China
| | - Qian Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China
| | - Songwen Tan
- Department of Pharmacy, Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China
| | - Chuanpin Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China
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