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Dunn AD, Robinson SA, Nwokafor C, Estill M, Ferrante J, Shen L, Lemchi CO, Creus-Muncunill J, Ramirez A, Mengaziol J, Brynildsen JK, Leggas M, Horn J, Ehrlich ME, Blendy JA. Molecular and long-term behavioral consequences of neonatal opioid exposure and withdrawal in mice. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 17:1202099. [PMID: 37424750 PMCID: PMC10324024 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1202099] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Infants exposed to opioids in utero are at high risk of exhibiting Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS), a combination of somatic withdrawal symptoms including high pitched crying, sleeplessness, irritability, gastrointestinal distress, and in the worst cases, seizures. The heterogeneity of in utero opioid exposure, particularly exposure to polypharmacy, makes it difficult to investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms that could inform early diagnosis and treatment of NOWS, and challenging to investigate consequences later in life. Methods To address these issues, we developed a mouse model of NOWS that includes gestational and post-natal morphine exposure that encompasses the developmental equivalent of all three human trimesters and assessed both behavior and transcriptome alterations. Results Opioid exposure throughout all three human equivalent trimesters delayed developmental milestones and produced acute withdrawal phenotypes in mice reminiscent of those observed in infants. We also uncovered different patterns of gene expression depending on the duration and timing of opioid exposure (3-trimesters, in utero only, or the last trimester equivalent only). Opioid exposure and subsequent withdrawal affected social behavior and sleep in adulthood in a sex-dependent manner but did not affect adult behaviors related to anxiety, depression, or opioid response. Discussion Despite marked withdrawal and delays in development, long-term deficits in behaviors typically associated with substance use disorders were modest. Remarkably, transcriptomic analysis revealed an enrichment for genes with altered expression in published datasets for Autism Spectrum Disorders, which correlate well with the deficits in social affiliation seen in our model. The number of differentially expressed genes between the NOWS and saline groups varied markedly based on exposure protocol and sex, but common pathways included synapse development, the GABAergic and myelin systems, and mitochondrial function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amelia D. Dunn
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Shivon A. Robinson
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Psychology, Williams College, Williamstown, MA, United States
| | - Chiso Nwokafor
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Molly Estill
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Julia Ferrante
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Li Shen
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Crystal O. Lemchi
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Jordi Creus-Muncunill
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Angie Ramirez
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Juliet Mengaziol
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Julia K. Brynildsen
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Mark Leggas
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Jamie Horn
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Michelle E. Ehrlich
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Julie A. Blendy
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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Nahvi RJ, Tanelian A, Nwokafor C, Godino A, Parise E, Estill M, Shen L, Nestler EJ, Sabban EL. Transcriptome profiles associated with resilience and susceptibility to single prolonged stress in the locus coeruleus and nucleus accumbens in male sprague-dawley rats. Behav Brain Res 2023; 439:114162. [PMID: 36257560 PMCID: PMC9812303 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2022.114162] [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: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Although most people are subjected to traumatic stress at least once in their lifetime, only a subset develop long-lasting, stress-triggered neuropsychiatric disorders, such as PTSD. Here we examined different transcriptome profiles within the locus coeruleus (LC) and nucleus accumbens (NAc) that may contribute to stress susceptibility. Sprague Dawley male rats were exposed to the single prolonged stress (SPS) model for PTSD. Two weeks later they were tested for their anxiety/avoidance behavior on the Elevated Plus Maze (EPM) and were divided into high and low anxiety-like subgroups. RNA (n = 5 per group) was subsequently isolated from LC and NAc and subjected to RNAseq. Transcriptome analysis was used to identify differentially-expressed genes (DEGs) which differed by at least 50 % with significance of 0.01. The LC had more than six times the number of DEGs than the NAc. Only one DEG was regulated similarly in both locations. Many of the DEGs in the LC were associated with morphological changes, including regulation of actin cytoskeleton, growth factor activity, regulation of cell size, brain development and memory, with KEGG pathway of regulation of actin cytoskeleton. The DEGs in the NAc were primarily related to DNA repair and synthesis, and differential regulation of cytokine production. The analysis identified MTPN (myotrophin) and NR3C1 (glucocorticoid receptor) as important upstream regulators of stress susceptibility in the LC. Overall the study provides new insight into molecular pathways in the LC and NAc that are associated with anxiety-like behavior triggered by stress susceptibility or resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roxanna J Nahvi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, United States
| | - Arax Tanelian
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, United States
| | - Chiso Nwokafor
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, United States
| | - Arthur Godino
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States
| | - Eric Parise
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States
| | - Molly Estill
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States
| | - Li Shen
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States
| | - Eric J Nestler
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States
| | - Esther L Sabban
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, United States.
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Núñez L, Buxbaum AR, Katz ZB, Lopez-Jones M, Nwokafor C, Czaplinski K, Pan F, Rosenberg J, Monday HR, Singer RH. Tagged actin mRNA dysregulation in IGF2BP1[Formula: see text] mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2208465119. [PMID: 36067310 PMCID: PMC9477413 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2208465119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene expression is tightly regulated by RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) to facilitate cell survival, differentiation, and migration. Previous reports have shown the importance of the Insulin-like Growth Factor II mRNA-Binding Protein (IGF2BP1/IMP1/ZBP1) in regulating RNA fate, including localization, transport, and translation. Here, we generated and characterized a knockout mouse to study RBP regulation. We report that IGF2BP1 is essential for proper brain development and neonatal survival. Specifically, these mice display disorganization in the developing neocortex, and further investigation revealed a loss of cortical marginal cell density at E17.5. We also investigated migratory cell populations in the IGF2BP1[Formula: see text] mice, using BrdU labeling, and detected fewer mitotically active cells in the cortical plate. Since RNA localization is important for cellular migration and directionality, we investigated the regulation of β-actin messenger RNA (mRNA), a well-characterized target with established roles in cell motility and development. To aid in our understanding of RBP and target mRNA regulation, we generated mice with endogenously labeled β-actin mRNA (IGF2BP1[Formula: see text]; β-actin-MS2[Formula: see text]). Using endogenously labeled β-actin transcripts, we report IGF2BP1[Formula: see text] neurons have increased transcription rates and total β-actin protein content. In addition, we found decreased transport and anchoring in knockout neurons. Overall, we present an important model for understanding RBP regulation of target mRNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leti Núñez
- Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY 10461
| | | | | | - Melissa Lopez-Jones
- Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY 10461
| | - Chiso Nwokafor
- Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY 10461
| | | | - Feng Pan
- Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN 46285
| | | | | | - Robert H. Singer
- Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY 10461
- Gruss-Lipper Biophotonics Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY 10461
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Nwokafor C, Serova LI, Tanelian A, Nahvi RJ, Sabban EL. Variable Response of Norepinephrine Transporter to Traumatic Stress and Relationship to Hyperarousal. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:725091. [PMID: 34650410 PMCID: PMC8507558 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.725091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The noradrenergic systems play a key role in stress triggered disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We hypothesized that traumatic stress will alter expression of norepinephrine transporter (NET) in locus coeruleus (LC) and its target brain regions which could be related to hyperarousal. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to single prolonged stress (SPS) and several weeks later the LC was isolated. NET mRNA levels in LC, determined by RT-PCR, displayed variable response with high and low responsive subgroups. In different cohort, acoustic startle response (ASR) was measured 2 weeks after SPS and levels of NET mRNA and protein in LC determined. The high NET responsive subgroup had greater hyperarousal. Nevertheless, NET protein levels, as determined by western blots, were lower than unstressed controls in LC, ventral hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex and displayed considerable variability. Hypermethylation of specific CpG region in promoter of SLC6A2 gene, encoding NET, was present in the low, but not high, NET mRNA responsive subgroup. Taken together, the results demonstrate variability in stress elicited changes in NET gene expression and involvement of epigenetic changes. This may underlie mechanisms of susceptibility and resilience to traumatic stress triggered neuropsychiatric symptoms, especially hyperarousal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiso Nwokafor
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, United States
| | - Lidia I Serova
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, United States
| | - Arax Tanelian
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, United States
| | - Roxanna J Nahvi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, United States
| | - Esther L Sabban
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, United States
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Nahvi RJ, Tanelian A, Nwokafor C, Hollander CM, Peacock L, Sabban EL. Intranasal Neuropeptide Y as a Potential Therapeutic for Depressive Behavior in the Rodent Single Prolonged Stress Model in Females. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:705579. [PMID: 34566592 PMCID: PMC8456029 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.705579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The susceptibility to stress-elicited disorders is markedly influenced by sex. Women are twice as likely as men to develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety disorders, and social impairments following exposure to traumatic stress. However, most of the studies in animal models examining putative therapeutics for stress-triggered impairments, including single prolonged stress (SPS), were performed predominantly with males. Previous studies in males demonstrated that intranasal neuropeptide Y (NPY) can provide therapeutic relief of many SPS-triggered behaviors, but is ineffective in females at the same dose. Thus, females may need a higher dose of exogenous NPY to attain a therapeutically significant concentration since the overwhelming majority of studies found that NPY levels in females in many brain regions are lower than in male rodents. Here, we examined SPS as an appropriate model to elicit many PTSD-associated symptoms in females and whether intranasal NPY at higher doses than with males is able to alter the development of SPS-triggered behavioral impairments. Sprague-Dawley female rats were exposed to SPS only, or in a separate cohort after SPS stressors were immediately infused intranasally with one of several doses of NPY, starting with 600 μg/rat—four times the dose effective in males. In the third cohort of animals, females were infused intranasally with either 600 μg NPY, omarigliptin [a dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP4) inhibitor], or both right after the SPS stressors. After 19 days they were tested on several behavioral tests. SPS elicited significant depressive/despair like behavior on the forced swim test (FST), anxiety behavior on the elevated plus maze (EPM), as well as impaired social interaction. On the FST, there was a dose-response effect of intranasal NPY, with 1,200 μg, but not 600 μg, preventing the development of the SPS-elicited depressive-like behavior. The omarigliptin and 600 μg NPY combined treatment, but neither alone, was also sufficient at preventing depressive-like behavior on the FST. The results demonstrate that: (1) SPS elicits several behavioral manifestations of PTSD in females; (2) early intervention with a high dose of intranasal NPY has therapeutic potential also for females; and (3) NPY cleavage by DPP4 may play a role in the higher dose requirement for females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roxanna J Nahvi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, United States
| | - Arax Tanelian
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, United States
| | - Chiso Nwokafor
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, United States
| | - Callie M Hollander
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, United States
| | - Lauren Peacock
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, United States
| | - Esther L Sabban
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, United States
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6
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Nwokafor C, Serova LI, Nahvi RJ, McCloskey J, Sabban EL. Activation of NPY receptor subtype 1 by [D-His 26]NPY is sufficient to prevent development of anxiety and depressive like effects in the single prolonged stress rodent model of PTSD. Neuropeptides 2020; 80:102001. [PMID: 31916978 DOI: 10.1016/j.npep.2019.102001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [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: 08/16/2019] [Revised: 11/17/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The neuropeptide Y (NPY) system plays an important role in mediating resilience to the harmful effect of stress in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It can mediate its effects via several G-protein coupled receptors: Y1R, Y2R, Y4R and Y5R. To investigate the role of individual NPY receptors in the resilience effects of NPY to traumatic stress, intranasal infusion of either Y1R agonists [D-His26]NPY, [Leu31Pro34]NPY, Y2R agonist NPY (3-36) or NPY were administered to male Sprague-Dawley rats immediately following the last stressor of the single prolonged stress (SPS) protocol, a widely used PTSD animal model. After 7 or 14 days, effects of the treatments were measured on the elevated plus maze (EPM) for anxiety, in forced swim test (FST) for development of depressive-like or re-experiencing behavior, in social interaction (SI) test for impaired social behavior, and acoustic startle response (ASR) for hyperarousal. [D-His26]NPY, but not [Leu31Pro34]NPY nor NPY (3-36) Y2R, was effective in preventing the SPS-elicited development of anxiety. Y1R, but not Y2R agonists prevented development of depressive- feature on FST, with [D-His26]NPY superior to NPY. The results demonstrate that [D-His26]NPY was sufficient to prevent development of anxiety, social impairment and depressive symptoms, and has promise as an early intervention therapy following traumatic stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiso Nwokafor
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA
| | - Lidia I Serova
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA
| | - Roxanna J Nahvi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA
| | - Jaclyn McCloskey
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA
| | - Esther L Sabban
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA.
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Nahvi RJ, Nwokafor C, Sabban E. Single Prolonged Stress Provokes Depressive‐like Behavior, Anxiety and Impaired Social Interaction in Females with Potential for Early Invention with Neuropeptide Y. FASEB J 2020. [DOI: 10.1096/fasebj.2020.34.s1.02046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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Nwokafor C, Serova LI, Sabban EL. Preclinical findings on the potential of intranasal neuropeptide Y for treating hyperarousal features of PTSD. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2019; 1455:149-159. [PMID: 31250475 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [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: 02/18/2019] [Revised: 05/20/2019] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Acoustic startle response (ASR) assesses hyperarousal, a core symptom of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Intranasal neuropeptide Y (NPY) administration was shown to prevent hyperarousal in single prolonged stress (SPS) rodent PTSD model. However, it is unclear how ASR itself alters responses to stress. Rats (A-S-A) were exposed to acoustic startle (AS) 1 day before SPS (ASR1) and 2 weeks afterward (ASR2). Other groups were exposed in parallel to either AS (A-A) or SPS or neither. SPS enhanced ASR2. In relevant brain areas, mRNA levels were determined by qRT-PCR. In mediobasal hypothalamus, AS or SPS each increased CRH mRNA levels without an additive effect. Exposure to AS appeared to dampen some responses to SPS. The SPS-triggered reduction of GR and FKBP5 gene expression was not observed in A-S-A group. In locus coeruleus, SPS increased CRHR1 and reduced Y2R mRNAs, but not in A-S-A group. In both regions, AS altered NPY receptor gene expression, which may mediate dampening responses to SPS. In second experiment, intranasal NPY administered 2 weeks after SPS reversed hyperarousal symptoms for at least 7 days. This study reveals important effects of AS on the NPY system and demonstrates that intranasal NPY elicits long-lasting reversal of traumatic stress-triggered hyperarousal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiso Nwokafor
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York
| | - Lidia I Serova
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York
| | - Esther L Sabban
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York
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Serova LI, Nwokafor C, Van Bockstaele EJ, Reyes BAS, Lin X, Sabban EL. Single prolonged stress PTSD model triggers progressive severity of anxiety, altered gene expression in locus coeruleus and hypothalamus and effected sensitivity to NPY. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2019; 29:482-492. [PMID: 30878321 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2019.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [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: 08/09/2018] [Revised: 02/13/2019] [Accepted: 02/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
PTSD is heterogeneous disorder that can be long lasting and often has delayed onset following exposure to a traumatic event. Therefore, it is important to take a staging approach to evaluate progression of biological mechanisms of the disease. Here, we begin to evaluate the temporal trajectory of changes following exposure to traumatic stressors in the SPS rat PTSD model. The percent of animals displaying severe anxiety on EPM increased from 17.5% at one week to 57.1% two weeks after SPS stressors, indicating delayed onset or progressive worsening of the symptoms. The LC displayed prolonged activation, and dysbalance of the CRH/NPY systems, with enhanced CRHR1 gene expression, coupled with reduced mRNAs for NPY and Y2R. In the mediobasal hypothalamus, increased CRH mRNA levels were sustained, but there was a flip in alterations of HPA regulatory molecules, GR and FKBP5 and Y5 receptor at two weeks compared to one week. Two weeks after SPS, intranasal NPY at 300 µg/rat, but not 150 µg which was effective after one week, reversed SPS triggered elevated anxiety. It also reversed SPS elicited depressive/despair symptoms and hyperarousal. Overall, the results reveal time-dependent progression in development of anxiety symptoms and molecular impairments in gene expression for CRH and NPY systems in LC and mediobasal hypothalamus by SPS. With longer time afterwards only a higher dose of NPY was effective in reversing behavioral impairments triggered by SPS, indicating that therapeutic approaches should be adjusted according to the degree of biological progression of the disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lidia I Serova
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New York Medical College Valhalla, Basic Sciences Building, New York, NY 10595, USA
| | - Chiso Nwokafor
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New York Medical College Valhalla, Basic Sciences Building, New York, NY 10595, USA
| | | | - Beverly A S Reyes
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19012, USA
| | - Xiaoping Lin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New York Medical College Valhalla, Basic Sciences Building, New York, NY 10595, USA
| | - Esther L Sabban
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New York Medical College Valhalla, Basic Sciences Building, New York, NY 10595, USA.
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Nwokafor C, Navhi RJ, Serova L, Sabban E. Single Prolonged Stress as a Prospective Model for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Females. FASEB J 2019. [DOI: 10.1096/fasebj.2019.33.1_supplement.581.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chiso Nwokafor
- Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyNew York Medical CollegeValhallaNY
| | - Roxanna J Navhi
- Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyNew York Medical CollegeValhallaNY
| | - Lidia Serova
- Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyNew York Medical CollegeValhallaNY
| | - Esther Sabban
- Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyNew York Medical CollegeValhallaNY
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11
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Nahvi RJ, Nwokafor C, Serova LI, Sabban EL. Single Prolonged Stress as a Prospective Model for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Females. Front Behav Neurosci 2019; 13:17. [PMID: 30804766 PMCID: PMC6378310 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2019.00017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2018] [Accepted: 01/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex plays an important role in susceptibility to stress triggered disorders. Posttraumatic Stress disorder (PTSD), a debilitating psychiatric disorder developed after exposure to a traumatic event, is two times more prevalent in women than men. However, the vast majority of animal models of PTSD, including single prolonged stress (SPS), were performed mostly with males. Here, we evaluated SPS as an appropriate PTSD model for females in terms of anxiety, depressive symptoms and changes in gene expression in the noradrenergic system in the brain. In addition, we examined intranasal neuropeptide Y (NPY) as a possible treatment in females. Female rats were subjected to SPS and given either intranasal NPY or vehicle in two separate experiments. In the first experiment, stressed females were compared to unstressed controls on forced swim test (FST) and for levels of expression of several genes in the locus coeruleus (LC) 12 days after SPS exposure. Using a separate cohort of animals, experiment two examined stressed females and unstressed controls on the elevated plus maze (EPM) and LC gene expression 7 days after SPS stressors. SPS led to increased anxiety-like behavior on EPM and depressive-like behavior on FST. Following FST, the rats displayed elevated tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), CRHR1 and Y1R mRNA levels in the LC, consistent with increased activation of the noradrenergic system. The expression level of these mRNAs was unchanged following EPM, except Y1R. Intranasal NPY at the doses shown to be effective in males, did not prevent development of depressive or anxiety-like behavior or molecular changes in the LC. The results indicate that while SPS could be an appropriate PTSD model for females, sex differences, such as response to NPY, are important to consider.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roxanna J Nahvi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, United States
| | - Chiso Nwokafor
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, United States
| | - Lidia I Serova
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, United States
| | - Esther L Sabban
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, United States
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Nwokafor C, Singer RH, Lim H. Imaging cell-type-specific dynamics of mRNAs in living mouse brain. Methods 2018; 157:100-105. [PMID: 30067943 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2018.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [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: 04/19/2018] [Revised: 07/22/2018] [Accepted: 07/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
We describe a method for visualizing mRNAs in living mouse. Nascent transcripts and cytoplasmic mRNAs were labeled via lentiviral expression of MS2 coat protein (MCP) tagged with fluorescent protein (MCP-XFP) in knock-in mice whose β-actin mRNAs contained MCP binding stem loops (MBS). Then the mRNA molecules were imaged in the live cerebral cortex through an optical cranial window by intravital two-photon microscopy. By means of the controlled expression of MCP-XFP, single mRNA particles could be detected differentially in the nucleus and cytoplasm of a specific cell type. Consequently, this method is useful for investigating the cell-type-dependent dynamics of mRNAs underlying the structure and function of the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiso Nwokafor
- Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, United States; Department of Biology, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, NY 10016, United States
| | - Robert H Singer
- Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, United States.
| | - Hyungsik Lim
- Department of Biology, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, NY 10016, United States; Department of Physics and Astronomy, Hunter College and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, NY 10065, United States.
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Park HY, Lim H, Yoon YJ, Follenzi A, Nwokafor C, Lopez-Jones M, Meng X, Singer RH. Visualization of dynamics of single endogenous mRNA labeled in live mouse. Science 2014; 343:422-4. [PMID: 24458643 DOI: 10.1126/science.1239200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 213] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The transcription and transport of messenger RNA (mRNA) are critical steps in regulating the spatial and temporal components of gene expression, but it has not been possible to observe the dynamics of endogenous mRNA in primary mammalian tissues. We have developed a transgenic mouse in which all β-actin mRNA is fluorescently labeled. We found that β-actin mRNA in primary fibroblasts localizes predominantly by diffusion and trapping as single mRNAs. In cultured neurons and acute brain slices, we found that multiple β-actin mRNAs can assemble together, travel by active transport, and disassemble upon depolarization by potassium chloride. Imaging of brain slices revealed immediate early induction of β-actin transcription after depolarization. Studying endogenous mRNA in live mouse tissues provides insight into its dynamic regulation within the context of the cellular and tissue microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hye Yoon Park
- Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
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14
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Lapidus KAB, Nwokafor C, Scott D, Baroni TE, Tenenbaum SA, Hiroi N, Singer RH, Czaplinski K. Transgenic expression of ZBP1 in neurons suppresses cocaine-associated conditioning. Learn Mem 2012; 19:35-42. [PMID: 22240322 DOI: 10.1101/lm.024471.111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
To directly address whether regulating mRNA localization can influence animal behavior, we created transgenic mice that conditionally express Zipcode Binding Protein 1 (ZBP1) in a subset of neurons in the brain. ZBP1 is an RNA-binding protein that regulates the localization, as well as translation and stability of target mRNAs in the cytoplasm. We took advantage of the absence of ZBP1 expression in the mature brain to examine the effect of expressing ZBP1 on animal behavior. We constructed a transgene conditionally expressing a GFP-ZBP1 fusion protein in a subset of forebrain neurons and compared cocaine-cued place conditioning in these mice versus noninduced littermates. Transgenic ZBP1 expression resulted in impaired place conditioning relative to nonexpressing littermates, and acutely repressing expression of the transgene restored normal cocaine conditioning. To gain insight into the molecular changes that accounted for this change in behavior, we identified mRNAs that specifically immunoprecipitated with transgenic ZBP1 protein from the brains of these mice. These data suggest that RNA-binding proteins can be used as a tool to identify the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression in the establishment and function of neural circuits involved in addiction behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle A B Lapidus
- Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461-1975, USA
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Yoon Park H, Yoon Y, Nwokafor C, Lopez-Jones M, Meng X, Follenzi A, Lim H, Singer RH. A Transgenic Mouse Model for Imaging Single RNA Dynamics In Vivo. Biophys J 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2011.11.3267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
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