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Mei Z, Liu J, Schroeder JP, Weinshenker D, Duong DM, Seyfried NT, Li Y, Jin P, Wingo AP, Wingo TS. Lowering Hippocampal miR-29a Expression Slows Cognitive Decline and Reduces Beta-Amyloid Deposition in 5×FAD Mice. Mol Neurobiol 2024; 61:3343-3356. [PMID: 37989983 PMCID: PMC11087195 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03791-0] [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: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
microRNA-29a (miR-29a) increases with age in humans and mice, and, in the brain, it has a role in neuronal maturation and response to inflammation. We previously found higher miR-29a levels in the human brain to be associated with faster antemortem cognitive decline, suggesting that lowering miR-29a levels could ameliorate memory impairment in the 5×FAD AD mouse model. To test this, we generated an adeno-associated virus (AAV) expressing GFP and a miR-29a "sponge" or empty vector. We found that the AAV expressing miR-29a sponge functionally reduced miR-29a levels and improved measures of memory in the Morris water maze and fear condition paradigms when delivered to the hippocampi of 5×FAD and WT mice. miR-29a sponge significantly reduced hippocampal beta-amyloid deposition in 5×FAD mice and lowered astrocyte and microglia activation in both 5×FAD and WT mice. Using transcriptomic and proteomic sequencing, we identified Plxna1 and Wdfy1 as putative effectors at the transcript and protein level in WT and 5×FAD mice, respectively. These data indicate that lower miR-29a levels mitigate cognitive decline, making miR-29a and its target genes worth further evaluation as targets to mitigate Alzheimer's disease (AD).
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Mei
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Jiaqi Liu
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Jason P Schroeder
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - David Weinshenker
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Goizueta Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Duc M Duong
- Goizueta Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Nicholas T Seyfried
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Goizueta Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Yujing Li
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Peng Jin
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Aliza P Wingo
- Division of Mental Health, Atlanta VA Medical Center, Decatur, GA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Thomas S Wingo
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Goizueta Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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2
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Liu J, Lustberg DJ, Galvez A, Liles LC, McCann KE, Weinshenker D. Genetic disruption of dopamine β-hydroxylase dysregulates innate responses to predator odor in mice. Neurobiol Stress 2024; 29:100612. [PMID: 38371489 PMCID: PMC10873756 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2024.100612] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
In rodents, exposure to predator odors such as cat urine acts as a severe stressor that engages innate defensive behaviors critical for survival in the wild. The neurotransmitters norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine (DA) modulate anxiety and predator odor responses, and we have shown previously that dopamine β-hydroxylase knockout (Dbh -/-), which reduces NE and increases DA in mouse noradrenergic neurons, disrupts innate behaviors in response to mild stressors such as novelty. We examined the consequences of Dbh knockout on responses to predator odor (bobcat urine) and compared them to Dbh-competent littermate controls. Over the first 10 min of predator odor exposure, controls exhibited robust defensive burying behavior, whereas Dbh -/- mice showed high levels of grooming. Defensive burying was potently suppressed in controls by drugs that reduce NE transmission, while excessive grooming in Dbh -/- mice was blocked by DA receptor antagonism. In response to a cotton square scented with a novel "neutral" odor (lavender), most control mice shredded the material, built a nest, and fell asleep within 90 min. Dbh -/- mice failed to shred the lavender-scented nestlet, but still fell asleep. In contrast, controls sustained high levels of arousal throughout the predator odor test and did not build nests, while Dbh -/- mice were asleep by the 90-min time point, often in shredded bobcat urine-soaked nesting material. Compared with controls exposed to predator odor, Dbh -/- mice demonstrated decreased c-fos induction in the anterior cingulate cortex, lateral septum, periaqueductal gray, and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, but increased c-fos in the locus coeruleus and medial amygdala. These data indicate that relative ratios of central NE and DA signaling coordinate the type and valence of responses to predator odor.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Abigail Galvez
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - L. Cameron Liles
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Katharine E. McCann
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - David Weinshenker
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
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3
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Liu J, Lustberg DJ, Galvez A, Liles LC, McCann KE, Weinshenker D. Genetic disruption of dopamine β-hydroxylase dysregulates innate responses to predator odor in mice. bioRxiv 2024:2023.06.21.545975. [PMID: 38234825 PMCID: PMC10793432 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.21.545975] [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: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
In rodents, exposure to predator odors such as cat urine acts as a severe stressor that engages innate defensive behaviors critical for survival in the wild. The neurotransmitters norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine (DA) modulate anxiety and predator odor responses, and we have shown previously that dopamine β-hydroxylase knockout (Dbh -/-), which reduces NE and increases DA in mouse noradrenergic neurons, disrupts innate behaviors in response to mild stressors such as novelty. We examined the consequences of Dbh knockout (Dbh -/-) on responses to predator odor (bobcat urine) and compared them to Dbh-competent littermate controls. Over the first 10 min of predator odor exposure, controls exhibited robust defensive burying behavior, whereas Dbh -/- mice showed high levels of grooming. Defensive burying was potently suppressed in controls by drugs that reduce NE transmission, while excessive grooming in Dbh -/- mice was blocked by DA receptor antagonism. In response to a cotton square scented with a novel "neutral" odor (lavender), most control mice shredded the material, built a nest, and fell asleep within 90 min. Dbh -/- mice failed to shred the lavender-scented nestlet, but still fell asleep. In contrast, controls sustained high levels of arousal throughout the predator odor test and did not build nests, while Dbh -/- mice were asleep by the 90-min time point, often in shredded bobcat urine-soaked nesting material. Compared with controls exposed to predator odor, Dbh -/- mice demonstrated decreased c-fos induction in the anterior cingulate cortex, lateral septum, periaqueductal gray, and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, but increased c-fos in the locus coeruleus and medial amygdala. These data indicate that relative ratios of central NE and DA signaling coordinate the type and valence of responses to predator odor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joyce Liu
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Daniel J. Lustberg
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Abigail Galvez
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA USA
| | - L. Cameron Liles
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Katharine E. McCann
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA USA
| | - David Weinshenker
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA USA
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4
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Rowson S, Bekhbat M, Kelly S, Hyer MM, Dyer S, Weinshenker D, Neigh G. Chronic adolescent stress alters GR-FKBP5 interactions in the hippocampus of adult female rats. Stress 2024; 27:2312467. [PMID: 38557197 PMCID: PMC11067065 DOI: 10.1080/10253890.2024.2312467] [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: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Chronic stress exposure during development can have lasting behavioral consequences that differ in males and females. More specifically, increased depressive behaviors in females, but not males, are observed in both humans and rodent models of chronic stress. Despite these known stress-induced outcomes, the molecular consequences of chronic adolescent stress in the adult brain are less clear. The stress hormone corticosterone activates the glucocorticoid receptor, and activity of the receptor is regulated through interactions with co-chaperones-such as the immunophilin FK506 binding proteins 5 (FKBP5). Previously, it has been reported that the adult stress response is modified by a history of chronic stress; therefore, the current study assessed the impact of chronic adolescent stress on the interactions of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) with its regulatory co-chaperone FKBP5 in response to acute stress in adulthood. Although protein presence for FKBP5 did not differ by group, assessment of GR-FKBP5 interactions demonstrated that adult females with a history of chronic adolescent stress had elevated GR-FKBP5 interactions in the hippocampus following an acute stress challenge which could potentially contribute to a reduced translocation pattern given previous literature describing the impact of FKBP5 on GR activity. Interestingly, the altered co-chaperone interactions of the GR in the stressed female hippocampus were not coupled to an observable difference in transcription of GR-regulated genes. Together, these studies show that chronic adolescent stress causes lasting changes to co-chaperone interactions with the glucocorticoid receptor following stress exposure in adulthood and highlight the potential role that FKBP5 plays in these modifications. Understanding the long-term implications of adolescent stress exposure will provide a mechanistic framework to guide the development of interventions for adult disorders related to early life stress exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sydney Rowson
- Molecular and Systems Pharmacology Graduate Program, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Mandakh Bekhbat
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Sean Kelly
- Department of Physiology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Molly M. Hyer
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Samya Dyer
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - David Weinshenker
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Gretchen Neigh
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
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5
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Levinstein MR, De Oliveira PA, Casajuana-Martin N, Quiroz C, Budinich RC, Rais R, Rea W, Ventriglia EN, Llopart N, Casadó-Anguera V, Moreno E, Walther D, Glatfelter GC, Weinshenker D, Zarate CA, Casadó V, Baumann MH, Pardo L, Ferré S, Michaelides M. Unique pharmacodynamic properties and low abuse liability of the µ-opioid receptor ligand (S)-methadone. Mol Psychiatry 2023:10.1038/s41380-023-02353-z. [PMID: 38145984 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02353-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
(R,S)-methadone ((R,S)-MTD) is a µ-opioid receptor (MOR) agonist comprised of (R)-MTD and (S)-MTD enantiomers. (S)-MTD is being developed as an antidepressant and is considered an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonist. We compared the pharmacology of (R)-MTD and (S)-MTD and found they bind to MORs, but not NMDARs, and induce full analgesia. Unlike (R)-MTD, (S)-MTD was a weak reinforcer that failed to affect extracellular dopamine or induce locomotor stimulation. Furthermore, (S)-MTD antagonized motor and dopamine releasing effects of (R)-MTD. (S)-MTD acted as a partial agonist at MOR, with complete loss of efficacy at the MOR-galanin Gal1 receptor (Gal1R) heteromer, a key mediator of the dopaminergic effects of opioids. In sum, we report novel and unique pharmacodynamic properties of (S)-MTD that are relevant to its potential mechanism of action and therapeutic use. One-sentence summary: (S)-MTD, like (R)-MTD, binds to and activates MORs in vitro, but (S)-MTD antagonizes the MOR-Gal1R heteromer, decreasing its abuse liability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marjorie R Levinstein
- Biobehavioral Imaging and Molecular Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Paulo A De Oliveira
- Integrative Neurobiology Section, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Nil Casajuana-Martin
- Laboratory of Computational Medicine, Biostatistics Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cesar Quiroz
- Integrative Neurobiology Section, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Reece C Budinich
- Biobehavioral Imaging and Molecular Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Rana Rais
- Johns Hopkins Drug Discovery, Neurology and Pharmacology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - William Rea
- Integrative Neurobiology Section, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Emilya N Ventriglia
- Biobehavioral Imaging and Molecular Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Natàlia Llopart
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropharmacology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Biology and Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Verònica Casadó-Anguera
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropharmacology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Biology and Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Estefanía Moreno
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropharmacology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Biology and Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Donna Walther
- Designer Drug Research Unit, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Grant C Glatfelter
- Designer Drug Research Unit, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - David Weinshenker
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Carlos A Zarate
- Section on the Neurobiology and Treatment of Mood Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health Intramural Research Program, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Vicent Casadó
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropharmacology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Biology and Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Michael H Baumann
- Designer Drug Research Unit, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Leonardo Pardo
- Laboratory of Computational Medicine, Biostatistics Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sergi Ferré
- Integrative Neurobiology Section, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA.
| | - Michael Michaelides
- Biobehavioral Imaging and Molecular Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
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6
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Goettemoeller AM, Banks E, McCann KE, Kumar P, South K, Olah VJ, Ramelow CC, Duong DM, Seyfried NT, Rangaraju S, Weinshenker D, Rowan MJM. Entorhinal cortex vulnerability to human APP expression promotes hyperexcitability and tau pathology. Res Sq 2023:rs.3.rs-3370607. [PMID: 37987015 PMCID: PMC10659529 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3370607/v1] [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: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Preventative treatment for Alzheimer's Disease is of dire importance, and yet, cellular mechanisms underlying early regional vulnerability in Alzheimer's Disease remain unknown. In human patients with Alzheimer's Disease, one of the earliest observed pathophysiological correlates to cognitive decline is hyperexcitability1. In mouse models, early hyperexcitability has been shown in the entorhinal cortex, the first cortical region impacted by Alzheimer's Disease2-4. The origin of hyperexcitability in early-stage disease and why it preferentially emerges in specific regions is unclear. Using cortical-region and cell-type- specific proteomics and patch-clamp electrophysiology, we uncovered differential susceptibility to human-specific amyloid precursor protein (hAPP) in a model of sporadic Alzheimer's. Unexpectedly, our findings reveal that early entorhinal hyperexcitability may result from intrinsic vulnerability of parvalbumin interneurons, rather than the suspected layer II excitatory neurons. This vulnerability of entorhinal PV interneurons is specific to hAPP, as it could not be recapitulated with increased murine APP expression. Furthermore, the Somatosensory Cortex showed no such vulnerability to adult-onset hAPP expression, likely resulting from PV-interneuron variability between the two regions based on physiological and proteomic evaluations. Interestingly, entorhinal hAPP-induced hyperexcitability was quelled by co-expression of human Tau at the expense of increased pathological tau species. This study suggests early disease interventions targeting non-excitatory cell types may protect regions with early vulnerability to pathological symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease and downstream cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annie M Goettemoeller
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322
- GDBBS Graduate Program, Laney Graduate School, Emory University
| | - Emmie Banks
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322
- GDBBS Graduate Program, Laney Graduate School, Emory University
| | | | - Prateek Kumar
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine
| | - Kelly South
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322
- GDBBS Graduate Program, Laney Graduate School, Emory University
| | - Viktor J Olah
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322
| | - Christina C Ramelow
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine
- GDBBS Graduate Program, Laney Graduate School, Emory University
| | - Duc M Duong
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University
| | - Nicholas T Seyfried
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Emory University School of Medicine
| | - Srikant Rangaraju
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine
- GDBBS Graduate Program, Laney Graduate School, Emory University
| | | | - Matthew JM Rowan
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Emory University School of Medicine
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7
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Iannitelli AF, Weinshenker D. Riddles in the dark: Decoding the relationship between neuromelanin and neurodegeneration in locus coeruleus neurons. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 152:105287. [PMID: 37327835 PMCID: PMC10523397 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105287] [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: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The noradrenergic locus coeruleus (LC) is among the first regions of the brain affected by pathology in both Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD), but the reasons for this selective vulnerability are not completely understood. Several features of LC neurons have been proposed as contributing factors to this dysfunction and degeneration, and this review will focus on the presence of neuromelanin (NM). NM is a dark pigment unique to catecholaminergic cells that is formed of norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine (DA) metabolites, heavy metals, protein aggregates, and oxidated lipids. We cover what is currently known about NM and the limitations of historical approaches, then discuss the new human tyrosinase (hTyr) model of NM production in rodent catecholamine cells in vivo that offers unique opportunities for studying its neurobiology, neurotoxicity, and potential of NM-based therapeutics for treating neurodegenerative disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexa F Iannitelli
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - David Weinshenker
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
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8
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Mei Z, Liu J, Schroeder JP, Weinshenker D, Duong DM, Seyfried NT, Li Y, Jin P, Wingo AP, Wingo TS. Lowering hippocampal miR-29a expression slows cognitive decline and reduces beta-amyloid deposition in 5xFAD mice. Res Sq 2023:rs.3.rs-3235257. [PMID: 37645711 PMCID: PMC10462195 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3235257/v1] [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: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
microRNA-29a (miR-29a) increases with age in humans and mice, and, in the brain, it has a role in neuronal maturation and response to inflammation. We previously associated higher miR-29a levels in human brain with faster antemortem cognitive decline, suggesting that lowering miR-29a levels could ameliorate memory impairment in the 5xFAD AD mouse model. To test this hypothesis, we generated an adeno-associated virus (AAV) expressing GFP and a miR-29a "sponge" or empty vector. We found that the AAV expressing miR-29a sponge functionally reduced miR-29a levels, and improved measures of memory in the Morris water maze and fear condition paradigms when sponge delivered to hippocampi of 5XFAD and WT mice. miR-29a sponge expression significantly reduced hippocampal beta-amyloid deposition in 5XFAD mice and lowered astrocyte and microglia activation in both 5XFAD and WT mice. Using transcriptomic and proteomic sequencing, we identified Plxna1 and Wdfy1 as putative effectors at the transcript and protein level in WT and 5XFAD mice, respectively. These data indicate that miR-29a promotes AD-like neuropathology and negatively regulates cognition, making it and its target genes attractive therapeutic targets for the treatment of neurodegenerative disease.
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9
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Anderson T, Sharma S, Kelberman MA, Ware C, Guo N, Qin Z, Weinshenker D, Parent MB. Obesity during preclinical Alzheimer's disease development exacerbates brain metabolic decline. J Neurochem 2023. [PMID: 37391269 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [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: 03/11/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. Obesity in middle age increases AD risk and severity, which is alarming given that obesity prevalence peaks at middle age and obesity rates are accelerating worldwide. Midlife, but not late-life obesity increases AD risk, suggesting that this interaction is specific to preclinical AD. AD pathology begins in middle age, with accumulation of amyloid beta (Aβ), hyperphosphorylated tau, metabolic decline, and neuroinflammation occurring decades before cognitive symptoms appear. We used a transcriptomic discovery approach in young adult (6.5 months old) male and female TgF344-AD rats that overexpress mutant human amyloid precursor protein and presenilin-1 and wild-type (WT) controls to determine whether inducing obesity with a high-fat/high-sugar "Western" diet during preclinical AD increases brain metabolic dysfunction in dorsal hippocampus (dHC), a brain region vulnerable to the effects of obesity and early AD. Analyses of dHC gene expression data showed dysregulated mitochondrial and neurotransmission pathways, and up-regulated genes involved in cholesterol synthesis. Western diet amplified the number of genes that were different between AD and WT rats and added pathways involved in noradrenergic signaling, dysregulated inhibition of cholesterol synthesis, and decreased intracellular lipid transporters. Importantly, the Western diet impaired dHC-dependent spatial working memory in AD but not WT rats, confirming that the dietary intervention accelerated cognitive decline. To examine later consequences of early transcriptional dysregulation, we measured dHC monoamine levels in older (13 months old) AD and WT rats of both sexes after long-term chow or Western diet consumption. Norepinephrine (NE) abundance was significantly decreased in AD rats, NE turnover was increased, and the Western diet attenuated the AD-induced increases in turnover. Collectively, these findings indicate obesity during prodromal AD impairs memory, potentiates AD-induced metabolic decline likely leading to an overproduction of cholesterol, and interferes with compensatory increases in NE transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thea Anderson
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Sumeet Sharma
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Michael A Kelberman
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Christopher Ware
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Nanxi Guo
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Zhaohui Qin
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - David Weinshenker
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Marise B Parent
- Neuroscience Institute, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Georgia, USA
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10
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Harbin NH, Lustberg DJ, Hurst C, Pare J, Crotty KM, Waters AL, Yeligar SM, Smith Y, Seyfried NT, Weinshenker D, Hepler JR. RGS14 limits seizure-induced mitochondrial oxidative stress and pathology in hippocampus. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 181:106128. [PMID: 37075948 PMCID: PMC10259180 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106128] [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] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023] Open
Abstract
RGS14 is a complex multifunctional scaffolding protein that is highly enriched within pyramidal cells (PCs) of hippocampal area CA2. In these neurons, RGS14 suppresses glutamate-induced calcium influx and related G protein and ERK signaling in dendritic spines to restrain postsynaptic signaling and plasticity. Previous findings show that, unlike PCs of hippocampal areas CA1 and CA3, CA2 PCs are resistant to a number of neurological insults, including degeneration caused by temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). While RGS14 is protective against peripheral injury, similar roles for RGS14 during pathological injury in hippocampus remain unexplored. Recent studies showed that area CA2 modulates hippocampal excitability, generates epileptiform activity and promotes hippocampal pathology in animal models and patients with TLE. Because RGS14 suppresses CA2 excitability and signaling, we hypothesized that RGS14 would moderate seizure behavior and early hippocampal pathology following seizure activity, possibly affording protection to CA2 PCs. Using kainic acid (KA) to induce status epilepticus (KA-SE) in mice, we show that the loss of RGS14 (RGS14 KO) accelerated onset of limbic motor seizures and mortality compared to wild type (WT) mice, and that KA-SE upregulated RGS14 protein expression in CA2 and CA1 PCs of WT. Our proteomics data show that the loss of RGS14 impacted the expression of a number of proteins at baseline and after KA-SE, many of which associated unexpectedly with mitochondrial function and oxidative stress. RGS14 was shown to localize to the mitochondria in CA2 PCs of mice and reduce mitochondrial respiration in vitro. As a readout of oxidative stress, we found that RGS14 KO dramatically increased 3- nitrotyrosine levels in CA2 PCs, which was greatly exacerbated following KA-SE and correlated with a lack of superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) induction. Assessing for hallmarks of seizure pathology in RGS14 KO, we unexpectedly found no differences in neuronal injury in CA2 PCs. However, we observed a striking and surprising lack of microgliosis in CA1 and CA2 of RGS14 KO compared to WT. Together, our data demonstrate a newly appreciated role for RGS14 in limiting intense seizure activity and pathology in hippocampus. Our findings are consistent with a model where RGS14 limits seizure onset and mortality and, after seizure, is upregulated to support mitochondrial function, prevent oxidative stress in CA2 PCs, and promote microglial activation in hippocampus.
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Affiliation(s)
- N H Harbin
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, 1510 Clifton Rd, 5001 Rollins Research Ctr, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States.
| | - D J Lustberg
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, 615 Michael Street, Suite 301, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States
| | - C Hurst
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, 1510 Clifton Rd, 4001 Rollins Research Center, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States.
| | - J Pare
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, 954, Gatewood Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30329, United States.
| | - K M Crotty
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Emory University, 1364 Clifton Road NE, Suite H-153, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States; Atlanta Veterans Affairs Health Care System, 1670 Clairmont Road, Decatur, GA 30033, United States.
| | - A L Waters
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, 1510 Clifton Rd, 5001 Rollins Research Ctr, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States.
| | - S M Yeligar
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Emory University, 1364 Clifton Road NE, Suite H-153, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States; Atlanta Veterans Affairs Health Care System, 1670 Clairmont Road, Decatur, GA 30033, United States.
| | - Y Smith
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, 954, Gatewood Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30329, United States; Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, 12 Executive Park Dr NE, Atlanta, GA, 30322, United States.
| | - N T Seyfried
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, 1510 Clifton Rd, 4001 Rollins Research Center, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States.
| | - D Weinshenker
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, 615 Michael Street, Suite 301, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States.
| | - J R Hepler
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, 1510 Clifton Rd, 5001 Rollins Research Ctr, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States.
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11
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Theron V, Harvey BH, Botha T, Weinshenker D, Wolmarans DW. Life-threatening, high-intensity trauma- and context-dependent anxiety in zebrafish and its modulation by epinephrine. Horm Behav 2023; 153:105376. [PMID: 37244195 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2023.105376] [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: 01/29/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Trauma-related psychopathology transpires in some individuals after exposure to a life-threatening event. While aberrant adrenergic processes may contribute to this, a clear understanding of how said processes influence trauma-related conditions, remain inadequate. Here, we aimed to develop and describe a novel zebrafish (Danio rerio) model of life-threatening trauma-induced anxiety that may be representative of trauma related anxiety, and to evaluate the impact of stress-paired epinephrine (EPI) exposure in the model system. Four groups of zebrafish were each exposed to different and unique stress-related paradigms, i.e., i) a sham (trauma free), ii) high-intensity trauma (triple hit; THIT), iii) high-intensity trauma in the presence of EPI exposure (EHIT), and iv) EPI exposure on its own, all applied in the presence of a color context. Novel tank anxiety was subsequently assessed at 1, 4, 7 and 14 days after the traumatic event. The present results demonstrate that 1) through day 14, THIT or EPI exposure alone induced persistent anxiety-like behavior, 2) EHIT blunted the delayed anxiety-like sequalae associated with severe trauma, 3) exposure to a trauma-paired color context prior to anxiety testing bolstered the subsequent anxiety-like behavior of THIT, but not EHIT -exposed fish, and 4) despite this, THIT- and EPI-exposed fish showed a lesser degree of contextual avoidance behavior compared to sham- or EHIT-exposed fish. These results indicate that the stressors induced long-lasting anxiety-like behavior reminiscent of post trauma anxiety, while EPI displays complex interactions with the stressor, including a buffering effect to subsequent exposure of a trauma-paired cue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasti Theron
- Center of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa
| | - Brian H Harvey
- Center of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa; South African Medical Research Council Unit on Risk and Resilience in Mental Disorders, Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7700, South Africa
| | - Tarryn Botha
- Water Research Group, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa
| | - David Weinshenker
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - De Wet Wolmarans
- Center of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa.
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12
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Ehrenberg AJ, Kelberman MA, Liu KY, Dahl MJ, Weinshenker D, Falgàs N, Dutt S, Mather M, Ludwig M, Betts MJ, Winer JR, Teipel S, Weigand AJ, Eschenko O, Hämmerer D, Leiman M, Counts SE, Shine JM, Robertson IH, Levey AI, Lancini E, Son G, Schneider C, Egroo MV, Liguori C, Wang Q, Vazey EM, Rodriguez-Porcel F, Haag L, Bondi MW, Vanneste S, Freeze WM, Yi YJ, Maldinov M, Gatchel J, Satpati A, Babiloni C, Kremen WS, Howard R, Jacobs HIL, Grinberg LT. Priorities for research on neuromodulatory subcortical systems in Alzheimer's disease: Position paper from the NSS PIA of ISTAART. Alzheimers Dement 2023; 19:2182-2196. [PMID: 36642985 PMCID: PMC10182252 DOI: 10.1002/alz.12937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
The neuromodulatory subcortical system (NSS) nuclei are critical hubs for survival, hedonic tone, and homeostasis. Tau-associated NSS degeneration occurs early in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis, long before the emergence of pathognomonic memory dysfunction and cortical lesions. Accumulating evidence supports the role of NSS dysfunction and degeneration in the behavioral and neuropsychiatric manifestations featured early in AD. Experimental studies even suggest that AD-associated NSS degeneration drives brain neuroinflammatory status and contributes to disease progression, including the exacerbation of cortical lesions. Given the important pathophysiologic and etiologic roles that involve the NSS in early AD stages, there is an urgent need to expand our understanding of the mechanisms underlying NSS vulnerability and more precisely detail the clinical progression of NSS changes in AD. Here, the NSS Professional Interest Area of the International Society to Advance Alzheimer's Research and Treatment highlights knowledge gaps about NSS within AD and provides recommendations for priorities specific to clinical research, biomarker development, modeling, and intervention. HIGHLIGHTS: Neuromodulatory nuclei degenerate in early Alzheimer's disease pathological stages. Alzheimer's pathophysiology is exacerbated by neuromodulatory nuclei degeneration. Neuromodulatory nuclei degeneration drives neuropsychiatric symptoms in dementia. Biomarkers of neuromodulatory integrity would be value-creating for dementia care. Neuromodulatory nuclei present strategic prospects for disease-modifying therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander J Ehrenberg
- Memory and Aging Center, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Michael A Kelberman
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Kathy Y Liu
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK
| | - Martin J Dahl
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany
| | - David Weinshenker
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Neus Falgàs
- Alzheimer's Disease and Other Cognitive Disorders Unit, Neurology Service, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Shubir Dutt
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Mara Mather
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Mareike Ludwig
- Institute of Cognitive Neurology and Dementia Research, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Matthew J Betts
- Institute of Cognitive Neurology and Dementia Research, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Joseph R Winer
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Stefan Teipel
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), Rostock/Greifswald, Rostock, Germany
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, University Medicine Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Alexandra J Weigand
- San Diego State University/University of California San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Oxana Eschenko
- Department of Computational Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Dorothea Hämmerer
- Institute of Cognitive Neurology and Dementia Research, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), Magdeburg, Germany
- Department of Psychology, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London, UK
| | - Marina Leiman
- Institute of Cognitive Neurology and Dementia Research, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Scott E Counts
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
- Department of Family Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
- Michigan Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - James M Shine
- Brain and Mind Center, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Ian H Robertson
- Global Brain Health Institute, Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Allan I Levey
- Goizueta Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Goizueta Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Elisa Lancini
- Institute of Cognitive Neurology and Dementia Research, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Gowoon Son
- Memory and Aging Center, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Christoph Schneider
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Maxime Van Egroo
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Faculty of Health, Medicine, and Life Sciences, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Alzheimer Centre Limburg, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Claudio Liguori
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
- Neurology Unit, University Hospital of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Qin Wang
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Agusta University, Agusta, Georgia, USA
| | - Elena M Vazey
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Lena Haag
- Institute of Cognitive Neurology and Dementia Research, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Mark W Bondi
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
- Psychology Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Sven Vanneste
- Global Brain Health Institute, Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- School of Psychology, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Trinity College Institute for Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Whitney M Freeze
- Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
- Department of Neuropsychology and Psychiatry, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Yeo-Jin Yi
- Institute of Cognitive Neurology and Dementia Research, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Mihovil Maldinov
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Jennifer Gatchel
- Division of Geriatric Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Abhijit Satpati
- Memory and Aging Center, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Claudio Babiloni
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology "V. Erspamer,", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Hospital San Raffaele Cassino, Cassino, Italy
| | - William S Kremen
- Center for Behavior Genetics of Aging, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Robert Howard
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK
| | - Heidi I L Jacobs
- Gordon Center for Medical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Faculty of Health, Medicine, and Life Sciences, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Alzheimer Centre Limburg, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Lea T Grinberg
- Memory and Aging Center, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil
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13
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Kelberman MA, Rorabaugh JM, Anderson CR, Marriott A, DePuy SD, Rasmussen K, McCann KE, Weiss JM, Weinshenker D. Age-dependent dysregulation of locus coeruleus firing in a transgenic rat model of Alzheimer's disease. Neurobiol Aging 2023; 125:98-108. [PMID: 36889122 PMCID: PMC10038926 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2023.01.016] [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: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 01/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Hyperphosphorylated tau in the locus coeruleus (LC) is ubiquitous in prodromal Alzheimer's disease (AD), and LC neurons degenerate as AD progresses. Hyperphosphorylated tau alters firing rates in other brain regions, but its effects on LC neurons are unknown. We assessed single unit LC activity in anesthetized wild-type (WT) and TgF344-AD rats at 6 months, which represents a prodromal stage when LC neurons are the only cells containing hyperphosphorylated tau in TgF344-AD animals, and at 15 months when amyloid-β (Aβ) and tau pathology are both abundant in the forebrain. At baseline, LC neurons from TgF344-AD rats were hypoactive at both ages compared to WT littermates but showed elevated spontaneous bursting properties. Differences in footshock-evoked LC firing depended on age, with 6-month TgF344-AD rats demonstrating aspects of hyperactivity, and 15-month transgenic rats showing hypoactivity. Early LC hyperactivity is consistent with appearance of prodromal neuropsychiatric symptoms and is followed by LC hypoactivity which contributes to cognitive impairment. These results support further investigation into disease stage-dependent noradrenergic interventions for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Alexia Marriott
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Jay M Weiss
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
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14
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McKay JL, Nye J, Goldstein FC, Sommerfeld B, Smith Y, Weinshenker D, Factor SA. Levodopa responsive freezing of gait is associated with reduced norepinephrine transporter binding in Parkinson's disease. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 179:106048. [PMID: 36813207 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106048] [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: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Freezing of gait (FOG) is a major cause of falling in Parkinson's disease (PD) and can be responsive or unresponsive to levodopa. Pathophysiology is poorly understood. OBJECTIVE To examine the link between noradrenergic systems, the development of FOG in PD and its responsiveness to levodopa. METHODS We examined norepinephrine transporter (NET) binding via brain positron emission tomography (PET) to evaluate changes in NET density associated with FOG using the high affinity selective NET antagonist radioligand [11C]MeNER (2S,3S)(2-[α-(2-methoxyphenoxy)benzyl]morpholine) in 52 parkinsonian patients. We used a rigorous levodopa challenge paradigm to characterize PD patients as non-freezing (NO-FOG, N = 16), levodopa responsive freezing (OFF-FOG, N = 10), and levodopa-unresponsive freezing (ONOFF-FOG, N = 21), and also included a non-PD FOG group, primary progressive freezing of gait (PP-FOG, N = 5). RESULTS Linear mixed models identified significant reductions in whole brain NET binding in the OFF-FOG group compared to the NO-FOG group (-16.8%, P = 0.021) and regionally in the frontal lobe, left and right thalamus, temporal lobe, and locus coeruleus, with the strongest effect in right thalamus (P = 0.038). Additional regions examined in a post hoc secondary analysis including the left and right amygdalae confirmed the contrast between OFF-FOG and NO-FOG (P = 0.003). A linear regression analysis identified an association between reduced NET binding in the right thalamus and more severe New FOG Questionnaire (N-FOG-Q) score only in the OFF-FOG group (P = 0.022). CONCLUSION This is the first study to examine brain noradrenergic innervation using NET-PET in PD patients with and without FOG. Based on the normal regional distribution of noradrenergic innervation and pathological studies in the thalamus of PD patients, the implications of our findings suggest that noradrenergic limbic pathways may play a key role in OFF-FOG in PD. This finding could have implications for clinical subtyping of FOG as well as development of therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Lucas McKay
- Jean & Paul Amos Parkinson's Disease & Movement Disorders Program, Department of Neurology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA; Department of Biomedical Informatics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Tech and Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Jonathan Nye
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Felicia C Goldstein
- Neuropsychology Program, Department of Neurology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Barbara Sommerfeld
- Jean & Paul Amos Parkinson's Disease & Movement Disorders Program, Department of Neurology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Yoland Smith
- Jean & Paul Amos Parkinson's Disease & Movement Disorders Program, Department of Neurology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA; Emory National Primate Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - David Weinshenker
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Stewart A Factor
- Jean & Paul Amos Parkinson's Disease & Movement Disorders Program, Department of Neurology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA.
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15
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Michaelides M, Levinstein M, De Oliveira P, Casajuana-Martin N, Quiroz C, Budinich R, Rais R, Rea W, Ventriglia E, Llopart N, Casadó-Anguera V, Moreno E, Walther D, Glatfelter G, Weinshenker D, Zarate C, Casado V, Baumann M, Pardo L, Ferre S. Unique pharmacodynamic properties and low abuse liability of the μ-opioid receptor ligand (S)-methadone. Res Sq 2023:rs.3.rs-2644719. [PMID: 36993715 PMCID: PMC10055532 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2644719/v1] [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: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
(R,S)-methadone ((R,S)-MTD) is a racemic μ-opioid receptor (MOR) agonist comprised of (R)-MTD and (S)-MTD enantiomers used for the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD) and pain. (R)-MTD is used as an OUD treatment, has high MOR potency, and is believed to mediate (R,S)-MTD's therapeutic efficacy. (S)-MTD is in clinical development as an antidepressant and is considered an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonist. In opposition to this purported mechanism of action, we found that (S)-MTD does not occupy NMDARs in vivo in rats. Instead, (S)-MTD produced MOR occupancy and induced analgesia with similar efficacy as (R)-MTD. Unlike (R)-MTD, (S)-MTD was not self-administered and failed to increase locomotion or extracellular dopamine levels indicating low abuse liability. Moreover, (S)-MTD antagonized the effects of (R)-MTD in vivo and exhibited unique pharmacodynamic properties, distinct from those of (R)-MTD. Specifically, (S)-MTD acted as a MOR partial agonist with a specific loss of efficacy at the MOR-galanin 1 receptor (Gal1R) heteromer, a key mediator of the dopaminergic effects of opioids. In sum, we report novel and unique pharmacodynamic properties of (S)-MTD that are relevant to its potential mechanism of action and therapeutic use, as well as those of (R,S)-MTD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Estefanía Moreno
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Biology, Institute of Biomedicine of the University of Barcelona, University of Barcelona
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16
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Iannitelli AF, Segal A, Pare JF, Mulvey B, Liles LC, Sloan SA, McCann KE, Dougherty JD, Smith Y, Weinshenker D. Tyrosinase-induced neuromelanin accumulation triggers rapid dysregulation and degeneration of the mouse locus coeruleus. bioRxiv 2023:2023.03.07.530845. [PMID: 36945637 PMCID: PMC10028911 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.07.530845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Abstract
Motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD) are caused by degeneration of dopamine (DA) neurons of the substantia nigra (SN), while early non-motor symptoms such as anxiety and sleep disturbances are likely mediated by dysfunction of locus coeruleus (LC) norepinephrine (NE) neurons. The LC develops α-synuclein pathology prior to SN DA neurons in PD, and later undergoes degeneration, but the mechanisms responsible for its vulnerability are unknown. The SN and LC are the only structures in the brain that produces appreciable amounts of neuromelanin (NM), a dark cytoplasmic pigment. It has been proposed that NM initially plays a protective role by sequestering toxic catecholamine metabolites and heavy metals, but may become harmful during aging and PD as they overwhelm cellular machinery and are released during neurodegeneration. Rodents do not naturally produce NM, limiting the study of causal relationships between NM and PD-associated LC pathology. Adapting a viral-mediated approach for expression of human tyrosinase, the enzyme responsible for peripheral melanin production, we successfully promoted pigmentation in mouse LC neurons that recapitulates key features of endogenous NM found in primates, including eumelanin and pheomelanin, lipid droplets, and a double-membrane encasement. Pigment expression results in mild neurodegeneration, reduced NE levels, transcriptional changes, and novelty-induced anxiety phenotypes as early as 1-week post-injection. By 6-weeks, NM accumulation is associated with severe LC neurodegeneration and a robust neuroinflammatory response. These phenotypes are reminiscent of LC dysfunction in PD, validating this model for studying the consequences of pigment accumulation in the LC as it relates to neurodegenerative disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexa F. Iannitelli
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Arielle Segal
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Jean-Francoise Pare
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Bernard Mulvey
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - L. Cameron Liles
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Steven A. Sloan
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Katharine E. McCann
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Joseph D. Dougherty
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Yoland Smith
- Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - David Weinshenker
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
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17
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Harbin NH, Lustberg DJ, Hurst C, Pare JF, Crotty KM, Waters AL, Yeligar SM, Smith Y, Seyfried NT, Weinshenker D, Hepler JR. RGS14 is neuroprotective against seizure-induced mitochondrial oxidative stress and pathology in hippocampus. bioRxiv 2023:2023.02.01.526349. [PMID: 36778349 PMCID: PMC9915580 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.01.526349] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
RGS14 is a complex multifunctional scaffolding protein that is highly enriched within pyramidal cells (PCs) of hippocampal area CA2. There, RGS14 suppresses glutamate-induced calcium influx and related G protein and ERK signaling in dendritic spines to restrain postsynaptic signaling and plasticity. Previous findings show that, unlike PCs of hippocampal areas CA1 and CA3, CA2 PCs are resistant to a number of neurological insults, including degeneration caused by temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). While RGS14 is protective against peripheral injury, similar roles for RGS14 during pathological injury in hippocampus remain unexplored. Recent studies show that area CA2 modulates hippocampal excitability, generates epileptiform activity and promotes hippocampal pathology in animal models and patients with TLE. Because RGS14 suppresses CA2 excitability and signaling, we hypothesized that RGS14 would moderate seizure behavior and early hippocampal pathology following seizure activity. Using kainic acid (KA) to induce status epilepticus (KA-SE) in mice, we show loss of RGS14 (RGS14 KO) accelerated onset of limbic motor seizures and mortality compared to wild type (WT) mice, and that KA-SE upregulated RGS14 protein expression in CA2 and CA1 PCs of WT. Utilizing proteomics, we saw loss of RGS14 impacted the expression of a number of proteins at baseline and after KA-SE, many of which associated unexpectedly with mitochondrial function and oxidative stress. RGS14 was shown to localize to the mitochondria in CA2 PCs of mice and reduce mitochondrial respiration in vitro . As a readout of oxidative stress, we found RGS14 KO dramatically increased 3-nitrotyrosine levels in CA2 PCs, which was greatly exacerbated following KA-SE and correlated with a lack of superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) induction. Assessing for hallmarks of seizure pathology in RGS14 KO, we observed worse neuronal injury in area CA3 (but none in CA2 or CA1), and a lack of microgliosis in CA1 and CA2 compared to WT. Together, our data demonstrates a newly appreciated neuroprotective role for RGS14 against intense seizure activity in hippocampus. Our findings are consistent with a model where, after seizure, RGS14 is upregulated to support mitochondrial function and prevent oxidative stress in CA2 PCs, limit seizure onset and hippocampal neuronal injury, and promote microglial activation in hippocampus.
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18
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Iannitelli AF, Kelberman MA, Lustberg DJ, Korukonda A, McCann KE, Mulvey B, Segal A, Liles LC, Sloan SA, Dougherty JD, Weinshenker D. The Neurotoxin DSP-4 Dysregulates the Locus Coeruleus-Norepinephrine System and Recapitulates Molecular and Behavioral Aspects of Prodromal Neurodegenerative Disease. eNeuro 2023; 10:ENEURO.0483-22.2022. [PMID: 36635251 PMCID: PMC9829100 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0483-22.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The noradrenergic locus coeruleus (LC) is among the earliest sites of tau and α-synuclein pathology in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD), respectively. The onset of these pathologies coincides with loss of noradrenergic fibers in LC target regions and the emergence of prodromal symptoms including sleep disturbances and anxiety. Paradoxically, these prodromal symptoms are indicative of a noradrenergic hyperactivity phenotype, rather than the predicted loss of norepinephrine (NE) transmission following LC damage, suggesting the engagement of complex compensatory mechanisms. Because current therapeutic efforts are targeting early disease, interest in the LC has grown, and it is critical to identify the links between pathology and dysfunction. We employed the LC-specific neurotoxin N-(2-chloroethyl)-N-ethyl-2-bromobenzylamine (DSP-4), which preferentially damages LC axons, to model early changes in the LC-NE system pertinent to AD and PD in male and female mice. DSP-4 (two doses of 50 mg/kg, one week apart) induced LC axon degeneration, triggered neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, and reduced tissue NE levels. There was no LC cell death or changes to LC firing, but transcriptomics revealed reduced expression of genes that define noradrenergic identity and other changes relevant to neurodegenerative disease. Despite the dramatic loss of LC fibers, NE turnover and signaling were elevated in terminal regions and were associated with anxiogenic phenotypes in multiple behavioral tests. These results represent a comprehensive analysis of how the LC-NE system responds to axon/terminal damage reminiscent of early AD and PD at the molecular, cellular, systems, and behavioral levels, and provides potential mechanisms underlying prodromal neuropsychiatric symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexa F Iannitelli
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322
| | - Michael A Kelberman
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322
| | - Daniel J Lustberg
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322
| | - Anu Korukonda
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322
| | - Katharine E McCann
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322
| | - Bernard Mulvey
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Arielle Segal
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322
| | - L Cameron Liles
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322
| | - Steven A Sloan
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322
| | - Joseph D Dougherty
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - David Weinshenker
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322
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19
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Korukonda A, Iannitelli AF, Weinshenker D. Chemical ablation of locus coeruleus terminals in mice dysregulates behavioral features reminiscent of prodromal Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimers Dement 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/alz.063331] [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: 12/24/2022]
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20
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Kapri D, Vadodaria KC, Rommelfanger KS, Ogbonmwan YE, Liles LC, Fernandes-Thomas KA, Salvi SS, Husain BF, Weinshenker D, Vaidya VA. Genetic loss of norepinephrine does not alter adult hippocampal neurogenesis in dopamine beta-hydroxylase deficient mice. IBRO Neurosci Rep 2022; 13:420-425. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ibneur.2022.10.010] [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] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
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21
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Anumba N, Kelberman M, Smith C, Pan WJ, Clavijo PG, Marriott A, Kim E, Weinshenker D, Keilholz S. The effects of locus coeruleus stimulation on the BOLD global signal in TgF344‐AD rats. Alzheimers Dement 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/alz.061608] [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: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nmachi Anumba
- Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University Atlanta GA USA
| | | | - Corrie Smith
- Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University Atlanta GA USA
| | - Wen Ju Pan
- Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University Atlanta GA USA
| | - Perrin G Clavijo
- Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University Atlanta GA USA
| | | | | | | | - Shella Keilholz
- Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University Atlanta GA USA
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22
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Kelberman M, Anumba N, Smith C, Pan WJ, Clavijo PG, Marriott A, Kim E, Keilholz S, Weinshenker D. Effects of optogenetic locus coeurleus stimulation on functional connectivity in a rat model of Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimers Dement 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/alz.063368] [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: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Nmachi Anumba
- Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University Atlanta GA USA
| | - Corrie Smith
- Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University Atlanta GA USA
| | - Wen Ju Pan
- Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University Atlanta GA USA
| | - Perrin G Clavijo
- Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University Atlanta GA USA
| | | | | | - Shella Keilholz
- Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University Atlanta GA USA
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23
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Kelberman MA, Weinshenker D. A novel link between locus coeruleus activity and amyloid-related cognitive decline. Trends Neurosci 2022; 45:651-653. [PMID: 35659415 PMCID: PMC10216710 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2022.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Recent work from Prokopiou, Engels-Domínguez et al. assessed locus coeruleus (LC) activity and its functional connectivity (FC) to forebrain regions during a novelty task in cognitively unimpaired adult individuals with varying degrees of amyloid deposition. Novelty increased LC activity and LC FC, but lower responses on these measures were associated with steeper cognitive decline in amyloid-positive individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Kelberman
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - David Weinshenker
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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24
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Lustberg DJ, Liu JQ, Iannitelli AF, Vanderhoof SO, Liles LC, McCann KE, Weinshenker D. Norepinephrine and dopamine contribute to distinct repetitive behaviors induced by novel odorant stress in male and female mice. Horm Behav 2022; 144:105205. [PMID: 35660247 PMCID: PMC10216880 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2022.105205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [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: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to unfamiliar odorants induces an array of repetitive defensive and non-defensive behaviors in rodents which likely reflect adaptive stress responses to the uncertain valence of novel stimuli. Mice genetically deficient for dopamine β-hydroxylase (Dbh-/-) lack the enzyme required to convert dopamine (DA) into norepinephrine (NE), resulting in globally undetectable NE and supranormal DA levels. Because catecholamines modulate novelty detection and reactivity, we investigated the effects of novel plant-derived odorants on repetitive behaviors in Dbh-/- mice and Dbh+/- littermate controls, which have catecholamine levels comparable to wild-type mice. Unlike Dbh+/- controls, which exhibited vigorous digging in response to novel odorants, Dbh-/- mice displayed excessive grooming. Drugs that block NE synthesis or neurotransmission suppressed odorant-induced digging in Dbh+/- mice, while a DA receptor antagonist attenuated grooming in Dbh-/- mice. The testing paradigm elicited high circulating levels of corticosterone regardless of Dbh genotype, indicating that NE is dispensable for this systemic stress response. Odorant exposure increased NE and DA abundance in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of Dbh+/- mice, while Dbh-/- animals lacked NE and had elevated PFC DA levels that were unaffected by novel smells. Together, these findings suggest that novel odorant-induced increases in central NE tone contribute to repetitive digging and reflect psychological stress, while central DA signaling contributes to repetitive grooming. Further, we have established a simple method for repeated assessment of stress-induced repetitive behaviors in mice, which may be relevant for modeling neuropsychiatric disorders like Tourette syndrome or obsessive-compulsive disorder that are characterized by stress-induced exacerbation of compulsive symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Lustberg
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Joyce Q Liu
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Alexa F Iannitelli
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Samantha O Vanderhoof
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - L Cameron Liles
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Katharine E McCann
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - David Weinshenker
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
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25
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De Oliveira PA, Moreno E, Casajuana-Martin N, Casadó-Anguera V, Cai NS, Camacho-Hernandez GA, Zhu H, Bonifazi A, Hall MD, Weinshenker D, Newman AH, Logothetis DE, Casadó V, Plant LD, Pardo L, Ferré S. Preferential Gs protein coupling of the galanin Gal 1 receptor in the µ-opioid-Gal 1 receptor heterotetramer. Pharmacol Res 2022; 182:106322. [PMID: 35750299 PMCID: PMC9462584 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [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: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 06/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies have proposed that heteromers of µ-opioid receptors (MORs) and galanin Gal1 receptors (Gal1Rs) localized in the mesencephalon mediate the dopaminergic effects of opioids. The present study reports converging evidence, using a peptide-interfering approach combined with biophysical and biochemical techniques, including total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy, for a predominant homodimeric structure of MOR and Gal1R when expressed individually, and for their preference to form functional heterotetramers when co-expressed. Results show that a heteromerization-dependent change in the Gal1R homodimeric interface leads to a switch in G-protein coupling from inhibitory Gi to stimulatory Gs proteins. The MOR-Gal1R heterotetramer, which is thus bound to Gs via the Gal1R homodimer and Gi via the MOR homodimer, provides the framework for a canonical Gs-Gi antagonist interaction at the adenylyl cyclase level. These novel results shed light on the intense debate about the oligomeric quaternary structure of G protein-coupled receptors, their predilection for heteromer formation, and the resulting functional significance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Estefanía Moreno
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropharmacology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Biology and Institute of Biomedicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nil Casajuana-Martin
- Laboratory of Computational Medicine, Biostatistics Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Verònica Casadó-Anguera
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropharmacology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Biology and Institute of Biomedicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Gisela Andrea Camacho-Hernandez
- Medicinal Chemistry Section, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Hu Zhu
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Alessandro Bonifazi
- Medicinal Chemistry Section, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Matthew D Hall
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - David Weinshenker
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Amy Hauck Newman
- Medicinal Chemistry Section, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Diomedes E Logothetis
- Departments of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry and Chemical Biology and Center for Drug Discovery, School of Pharmacy at the Bouvé College of Health Sciences and College of Science, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Vicent Casadó
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropharmacology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Biology and Institute of Biomedicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Leigh D Plant
- Departments of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry and Chemical Biology and Center for Drug Discovery, School of Pharmacy at the Bouvé College of Health Sciences and College of Science, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Leonardo Pardo
- Laboratory of Computational Medicine, Biostatistics Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain.
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26
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Kang SS, Meng L, Zhang X, Wu Z, Mancieri A, Xie B, Liu X, Weinshenker D, Peng J, Zhang Z, Ye K. Tau modification by the norepinephrine metabolite DOPEGAL stimulates its pathology and propagation. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2022; 29:292-305. [PMID: 35332321 PMCID: PMC9018606 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-022-00745-3] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The noradrenergic locus ceruleus (LC) is the first site of detectable tau pathology in Alzheimer's disease (AD), but the mechanisms underlying the selective vulnerability of the LC in AD have not been completely identified. In the present study, we show that DOPEGAL, a monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) metabolite of norepinephrine (NE), reacts directly with the primary amine on the Lys353 residue of tau to stimulate its aggregation and facilitate its propagation. Inhibition of MAO-A or mutation of the Lys353 residue to arginine (Lys353Arg) decreases tau Lys353-DOPEGAL levels and diminishes tau pathology spreading. Wild-type tau preformed fibrils (PFFs) trigger Lys353-DOPEGAL formation, tau pathology propagation and cognitive impairment in MAPT transgenic mice, all of which are attenuated with PFFs made from the Lys353Arg mutant. Thus, the selective vulnerability of LC neurons in AD may be explained, in part, by NE oxidation via MAO-A into DOPEGAL, which covalently modifies tau and accelerates its aggregation, toxicity and propagation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seong Su Kang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Lanxia Meng
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xingyu Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhiping Wu
- Departments of Structural Biology and Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Ariana Mancieri
- Departments of Structural Biology and Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Boer Xie
- Departments of Structural Biology and Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Xia Liu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - David Weinshenker
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Junmin Peng
- Departments of Structural Biology and Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Zhentao Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
| | - Keqiang Ye
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Shenzhen, China.
- The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Shenzhen, China.
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27
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Cassidy CM, Therriault J, Pascoal TA, Cheung V, Savard M, Tuominen L, Chamoun M, McCall A, Celebi S, Lussier F, Massarweh G, Soucy JP, Weinshenker D, Tardif C, Ismail Z, Gauthier S, Rosa-Neto P. Association of locus coeruleus integrity with Braak stage and neuropsychiatric symptom severity in Alzheimer's disease. Neuropsychopharmacology 2022; 47:1128-1136. [PMID: 35177805 PMCID: PMC8938499 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-022-01293-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [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: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The clinical and pathophysiological correlates of locus coeruleus (LC) degeneration in Alzheimer's disease (AD) could be clarified using a method to index LC integrity in vivo, neuromelanin-sensitive MRI (NM-MRI). We examined whether integrity of the LC-norepinephrine system, assessed with NM-MRI, is associated with stage of AD and with neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS), independent of cortical pathophysiology (amyloid-β and tau burden). Cognitively normal older adults (n = 118), and individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI, n = 44), and AD (n = 28) underwent MR imaging and tau and amyloid-β positron emission tomography (with [18F]MK6240 and [18F]AZD4694, respectively). Integrity of the LC-norepinephrine system was assessed based on contrast-to-noise ratio of the LC on NM-MRI images. Braak stage of AD was derived from regional binding of [18F]MK6240. NPS were assessed with the Mild Behavioral Impairment Checklist (MBI-C). LC signal contrast was decreased in tau-positive participants (t186 = -4.00, p = 0.0001) and negatively correlated to Braak stage (Spearman ρ = -0.31, p = 0.00006). In tau-positive participants (n = 51), higher LC signal predicted NPS severity (ρ = 0.35, p = 0.019) independently of tau burden, amyloid-β burden, and cortical gray matter volume. This relationship appeared to be driven by the impulse dyscontrol domain of NPS, which was highly correlated to LC signal (ρ = 0.44, p = 0.0027). NM-MRI reveals loss of LC integrity that correlates to severity of AD. However, LC preservation in AD may also have negative consequences by conferring risk for impulse control symptoms. NM-MRI shows promise as a practical biomarker that could have utility in predicting the risk of NPS or guiding their treatment in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clifford M. Cassidy
- grid.28046.380000 0001 2182 2255Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Translational Neuroimaging Laboratory, The McGill University Research Centre for Studies in Aging, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Douglas Research Institute, Le Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et de Services Sociaux (CIUSSS) de l’Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada
| | - Joseph Therriault
- grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Translational Neuroimaging Laboratory, The McGill University Research Centre for Studies in Aging, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Douglas Research Institute, Le Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et de Services Sociaux (CIUSSS) de l’Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada
| | - Tharick A. Pascoal
- grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Translational Neuroimaging Laboratory, The McGill University Research Centre for Studies in Aging, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Douglas Research Institute, Le Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et de Services Sociaux (CIUSSS) de l’Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada
| | - Victoria Cheung
- grid.28046.380000 0001 2182 2255Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON Canada
| | - Melissa Savard
- grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Translational Neuroimaging Laboratory, The McGill University Research Centre for Studies in Aging, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Douglas Research Institute, Le Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et de Services Sociaux (CIUSSS) de l’Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada
| | - Lauri Tuominen
- grid.28046.380000 0001 2182 2255Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON Canada
| | - Mira Chamoun
- grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Translational Neuroimaging Laboratory, The McGill University Research Centre for Studies in Aging, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Douglas Research Institute, Le Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et de Services Sociaux (CIUSSS) de l’Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada
| | - Adelina McCall
- grid.28046.380000 0001 2182 2255Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON Canada
| | - Seyda Celebi
- grid.28046.380000 0001 2182 2255Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON Canada
| | - Firoza Lussier
- grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Translational Neuroimaging Laboratory, The McGill University Research Centre for Studies in Aging, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Douglas Research Institute, Le Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et de Services Sociaux (CIUSSS) de l’Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada
| | - Gassan Massarweh
- grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada
| | - Jean-Paul Soucy
- grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada
| | - David Weinshenker
- grid.189967.80000 0001 0941 6502Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Christine Tardif
- grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada
| | - Zahinoor Ismail
- grid.22072.350000 0004 1936 7697Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB Canada
| | - Serge Gauthier
- grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Translational Neuroimaging Laboratory, The McGill University Research Centre for Studies in Aging, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Alzheimer’s Disease Research Unit, The McGill University Research Centre for Studies in Aging, McGill University, Montréal, QC Canada
| | - Pedro Rosa-Neto
- grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Translational Neuroimaging Laboratory, The McGill University Research Centre for Studies in Aging, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Douglas Research Institute, Le Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et de Services Sociaux (CIUSSS) de l’Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC Canada
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Kelberman MA, Anderson CR, Chlan E, Rorabaugh JM, McCann KE, Weinshenker D. Consequences of Hyperphosphorylated Tau in the Locus Coeruleus on Behavior and Cognition in a Rat Model of Alzheimer's Disease. J Alzheimers Dis 2022; 86:1037-1059. [PMID: 35147547 PMCID: PMC9007891 DOI: 10.3233/jad-215546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [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] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The locus coeruleus (LC) is one of the earliest brain regions to accumulate hyperphosphorylated tau, but a lack of animal models that recapitulate this pathology has hampered our understanding of its contributions to Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathophysiology. OBJECTIVE We previously reported that TgF344-AD rats, which overexpress mutant human amyloid precursor protein and presenilin-1, accumulate early endogenous hyperphosphorylated tau in the LC. Here, we used TgF344-AD rats and a wild-type (WT) human tau virus to interrogate the effects of endogenous hyperphosphorylated rat tau and human tau in the LC on AD-related neuropathology and behavior. METHODS Two-month-old TgF344-AD and WT rats received bilateral LC infusions of full-length WT human tau or mCherry control virus driven by the noradrenergic-specific PRSx8 promoter. Rats were subsequently assessed at 6 and 12 months for arousal (sleep latency), anxiety-like behavior (open field, elevated plus maze, novelty-suppressed feeding), passive coping (forced swim task), and learning and memory (Morris water maze and fear conditioning). Hippocampal microglia, astrocyte, and AD pathology were evaluated using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS In general, the effects of age were more pronounced than genotype or treatment; older rats displayed greater hippocampal pathology, took longer to fall asleep, had reduced locomotor activity, floated more, and had impaired cognition compared to younger animals. TgF344-AD rats showed increased anxiety-like behavior and impaired learning and memory. The tau virus had negligible influence on most measures. CONCLUSION Effects of hyperphosphorylated tau on AD-like neuropathology and behavioral symptoms were subtle. Further investigation of different forms of tau is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Kelberman
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Neuroscience Program, Laney Graduate School, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Eli Chlan
- Neuroscience Program, Laney Graduate School, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
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29
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Acosta MC, Tillage RP, Weinshenker D, Saltzman W. Acute inhibition of dopamine β-hydroxylase attenuates behavioral responses to pups in adult virgin California mice (Peromyscus californicus). Horm Behav 2022; 137:105086. [PMID: 34808463 PMCID: PMC9250832 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2021.105086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
In biparental species, in which both parents care for their offspring, the neural and endocrine mediators of paternal behavior appear to overlap substantially with those underlying maternal behavior. Little is known, however, about the roles of classical neurotransmitters, such as norepinephrine (NE), in paternal care and whether they resemble those in maternal care. We tested the hypothesis that NE facilitates the initiation of nurturant behavior toward pups in virgin male and female California mice (Peromyscus californicus), a biparental rodent. Virtually all parents in this species are attracted to familiar and unfamiliar pups, while virgins either attack, avoid, or nurture pups, suggesting that the neurochemical control of pup-related behavior changes as mice transition into parenthood. We injected virgin males and females with nepicastat, a selective dopamine β-hydroxylase inhibitor that blocks NE synthesis (75 mg/kg, i.p.), or vehicle 2 h before exposing them to a novel pup, estrous female (males only), or pup-sized novel object for 60 min. Nepicastat significantly reduced the number of males and females that approached the pup and that displayed parental behavior. In contrast, nepicastat did not alter virgins' interactions with an estrous female or a novel object, suggesting that nepicastat-induced inhibition of interactions with pups was not mediated by changes in generalized neophobia, arousal, or activity. Nepicastat also significantly reduced NE levels in the amygdala and prefrontal cortex and increased the ratio of dopamine to NE in the hypothalamus. Our results suggest that NE may facilitate the initiation of parental behavior in male and female California mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melina C Acosta
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA; Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Rachel P Tillage
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Whitehead 301, 615 Michael St., Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - David Weinshenker
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Whitehead 301, 615 Michael St., Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Wendy Saltzman
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA; Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.
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30
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Levey AI, Qiu D, Zhao L, Hu WT, Duong DM, Higginbotham L, Dammer EB, Seyfried NT, Wingo TS, Hales CM, Gámez Tansey M, Goldstein DS, Abrol A, Calhoun VD, Goldstein FC, Hajjar I, Fagan AM, Galasko D, Edland SD, Hanfelt J, Lah JJ, Weinshenker D. A phase II study repurposing atomoxetine for neuroprotection in mild cognitive impairment. Brain 2021; 145:1924-1938. [PMID: 34919634 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awab452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [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: 06/12/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The locus coeruleus (LC) is the initial site of Alzheimer's disease neuropathology, with hyperphosphorylated Tau appearing in early adulthood followed by neurodegeneration in dementia. LC dysfunction contributes to Alzheimer's pathobiology in experimental models, which can be rescued by increasing norepinephrine (NE) transmission. To test NE augmentation as a potential disease-modifying therapy, we performed a biomarker-driven phase II trial of atomoxetine, a clinically-approved NE transporter inhibitor, in subjects with mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease. The design was a single-center, 12-month double-blind crossover trial. Thirty-nine participants with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and biomarker evidence of Alzheimer's disease were randomized to atomoxetine or placebo treatment. Assessments were collected at baseline, 6- (crossover) and 12-months (completer). Target engagement was assessed by CSF and plasma measures of NE and metabolites. Prespecified primary outcomes were CSF levels of IL1α and Thymus-Expressed Chemokine. Secondary/exploratory outcomes included clinical measures, CSF analyses of Aβ42, Tau, and pTau181, mass spectrometry proteomics, and immune-based targeted inflammation-related cytokines, as well as brain imaging with MRI and FDG-PET. Baseline demographic and clinical measures were similar across trial arms. Dropout rates were 5.1% for atomoxetine and 2.7% for placebo, with no significant differences in adverse events. Atomoxetine robustly increased plasma and CSF NE levels. IL-1α and Thymus-Expressed Chemokine were not measurable in most samples. There were no significant treatment effects on cognition and clinical outcomes, as expected given the short trial duration. Atomoxetine was associated with a significant reduction in CSF Tau and pTau181 compared to placebo, but not associated with change in Aβ42. Atomoxetine treatment also significantly altered CSF abundances of protein panels linked to brain pathophysiologies, including synaptic, metabolism, and glial immunity, as well as inflammation-related CDCP1, CD244, TWEAK, and OPG proteins. Treatment was also associated with significantly increased BDNF and reduced triglycerides in plasma. Resting state fMRI showed significantly increased inter-network connectivity due to atomoxetine between the insula and the hippocampus. FDG-PET showed atomoxetine-associated increased uptake in hippocampus, parahippocampal gyrus, middle temporal pole, inferior temporal gyrus, and fusiform gyrus, with carry-over effects six months after treatment. In summary, atomoxetine treatment was safe, well tolerated, and achieved target engagement in prodromal Alzheimer's disease. Atomoxetine significantly reduced CSF Tau and pTau, normalized CSF protein biomarker panels linked to synaptic function, brain metabolism, and glial immunity, and increased brain activity and metabolism in key temporal lobe circuits. Further study of atomoxetine is warranted for repurposing the drug to slow Alzheimer's disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allan I Levey
- Goizueta Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, USA.,Department of Neurology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, USA
| | - Deqiang Qiu
- Goizueta Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, USA.,Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, USA
| | - Liping Zhao
- Goizueta Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, USA.,Department of Biostatistics, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, USA
| | - William T Hu
- Goizueta Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, USA.,Department of Neurology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, USA
| | - Duc M Duong
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, USA
| | - Lenora Higginbotham
- Goizueta Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, USA
| | - Eric B Dammer
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, USA
| | - Nicholas T Seyfried
- Goizueta Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, USA.,Department of Biochemistry, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, USA
| | - Thomas S Wingo
- Goizueta Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, USA.,Department of Neurology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, USA.,Department of Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, USA
| | - Chadwick M Hales
- Goizueta Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, USA.,Department of Neurology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, USA
| | - Malú Gámez Tansey
- Department of Physiology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, USA
| | | | - Anees Abrol
- Tri-institutional Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science (TReNDS), Georgia State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA
| | - Vince D Calhoun
- Tri-institutional Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science (TReNDS), Georgia State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA
| | - Felicia C Goldstein
- Goizueta Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, USA.,Department of Neurology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, USA
| | - Ihab Hajjar
- Goizueta Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, USA.,Department of Neurology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, USA
| | - Anne M Fagan
- Department of Neurology and Knight ADRC, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, 630130, USA
| | - Doug Galasko
- Department of Neurosciences and ADRC, UCSD, San Diego, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Steven D Edland
- Department of Neurosciences and ADRC, UCSD, San Diego, CA, 92093, USA
| | - John Hanfelt
- Goizueta Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, USA.,Department of Biostatistics, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, USA
| | - James J Lah
- Goizueta Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, USA.,Department of Neurology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, USA
| | - David Weinshenker
- Goizueta Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, USA.,Department of Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, USA
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Botz-Zapp CA, Foster SL, Pulley DM, Hempel B, Bi GH, Xi ZX, Newman AH, Weinshenker D, Manvich DF. Effects of the selective dopamine D 3 receptor antagonist PG01037 on morphine-induced hyperactivity and antinociception in mice. Behav Brain Res 2021; 415:113506. [PMID: 34352292 PMCID: PMC8403645 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [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: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Recent preclinical studies have reported that pretreatment with the novel and highly-selective dopamine D3 receptor (D3R) antagonists R-VK4-40 or VK4-116 attenuates the abuse-related behavioral effects of oxycodone while enhancing its analgesic properties. However, whether these observed effects are generalizable to the broad class of D3R antagonists and/or extend to opioids other than oxycodone has not been extensively explored. The present study sought to assess the impact of pretreatment with another selective D3R antagonist, PG01037, on several behavioral effects of morphine in mice. C57Bl/6 J mice were pretreated with PG01037 (0-10 mg/kg) and tested for 1) hyperlocomotion induced by acute morphine (5.6-56 mg/kg), 2) locomotor sensitization following repeated morphine (56 mg/kg), 3) antinociception following acute morphine (18 mg/kg), and 4) catalepsy following administration of PG01037 alone or in combination with morphine (56 mg/kg). PG01037 dose-dependently attenuated morphine-induced hyperlocomotion and morphine-induced antinociception at doses that did not alter basal locomotion or nociception alone, but did not prevent the induction of locomotor sensitization following repeated morphine administration. Moreover, PG01037 did not induce catalepsy either alone or in combination with morphine. These results suggest that attenuation of acute opioid-induced hyperactivity may be a behavioral effect shared among D3R-selective antagonists, thus supporting continued investigations into their use as potential treatments for opioid use disorder. However, PG01037 is unlike newer, highly-selective D3R antagonists in its capacity to reduce opioid-induced antinociception, indicating that modulation of opioid analgesia may vary across different D3R antagonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian A. Botz-Zapp
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, 615 Michael Street, Suite 301, Atlanta, GA, USA 30322
| | - Stephanie L. Foster
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, 615 Michael Street, Suite 301, Atlanta, GA, USA 30322
| | - Desta M. Pulley
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, 2 Medical Center Drive, Stratford, NJ, 08084, USA
| | - Briana Hempel
- Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse-Intramural Research Program, NIH, DHHS, 333 Cassell Drive, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA 21224
| | - Guo-Hua Bi
- Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse-Intramural Research Program, NIH, DHHS, 333 Cassell Drive, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA 21224
| | - Zheng-Xiong Xi
- Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse-Intramural Research Program, NIH, DHHS, 333 Cassell Drive, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA 21224
| | - Amy Hauck Newman
- Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse-Intramural Research Program, NIH, DHHS, 333 Cassell Drive, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA 21224
| | - David Weinshenker
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, 615 Michael Street, Suite 301, Atlanta, GA, USA 30322
| | - Daniel F. Manvich
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, 615 Michael Street, Suite 301, Atlanta, GA, USA 30322,Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, 2 Medical Center Drive, Stratford, NJ, 08084, USA
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Foster SL, Lustberg DJ, Harbin NH, Bramlett SN, Hepler JR, Weinshenker D. RGS14 modulates locomotor behavior and ERK signaling induced by environmental novelty and cocaine within discrete limbic structures. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2021; 238:2755-2773. [PMID: 34184126 PMCID: PMC8455459 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-021-05892-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [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: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE In rodents, exposure to novel environments or psychostimulants promotes locomotion. Indeed, locomotor reactivity to novelty strongly predicts behavioral responses to psychostimulants in animal models of addiction. RGS14 is a plasticity-restricting protein with unique functional domains that enable it to suppress ERK-dependent signaling as well as regulate G protein activity. Although recent studies show that RGS14 is expressed in multiple limbic regions implicated in psychostimulant- and novelty-induced hyperlocomotion, its function has been examined mostly in the context of hippocampal physiology and memory. OBJECTIVE We investigated whether RGS14 modulates novelty- and cocaine-induced locomotion (NIL and CIL, respectively) and neuronal activity. METHODS We assessed Rgs14 knockout (RGS14 KO) mice and wild-type (WT) littermate controls using NIL and CIL behavioral tests, followed by quantification of c-fos and phosphorylated ERK (pERK) induction in limbic regions that normally express RGS14. RESULTS RGS14 KO mice were less active than WT controls in the NIL test, driven by avoidance of the center of the novel environment. By contrast, RGS14 KO mice demonstrated augmented peripheral locomotion in the CIL test conducted in either a familiar or novel environment. RGS14 KO mice exhibited increased thigmotaxis, as well as greater c-fos and pERK induction in the central amygdala and dorsal hippocampus, when cocaine and novelty were paired. CONCLUSIONS RGS14 KO mice exhibited anti-correlated locomotor responses to novelty and cocaine, but displayed increased thigmotaxis in response to either stimuli which was augmented by their combination. Our findings also suggest RGS14 may reduce neuronal activity in limbic subregions by inhibiting ERK-dependent signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie L. Foster
- Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Human Genetics, Atlanta, GA 30322
| | - Daniel J. Lustberg
- Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Human Genetics, Atlanta, GA 30322
| | - Nicholas H. Harbin
- Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Atlanta, GA 30322
| | - Sara N. Bramlett
- Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Atlanta, GA 30322
| | - John R. Hepler
- Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Atlanta, GA 30322,Correspondence to: David Weinshenker, Ph.D., Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, 615 Michael St., Whitehead 301, Atlanta, GA 30322, ; John R. Hepler, Ph.D., Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, 1510 Clifton Rd., Atlanta, GA 30322,
| | - David Weinshenker
- , Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, 615 Michael St., Whitehead 301, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
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Foster SL, Galaj E, Karne SL, Ferré S, Weinshenker D. Cell-type specific expression and behavioral impact of galanin and GalR1 in the locus coeruleus during opioid withdrawal. Addict Biol 2021; 26:e13037. [PMID: 33768673 PMCID: PMC8376771 DOI: 10.1111/adb.13037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [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: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The neuropeptide galanin is reported to attenuate opioid withdrawal symptoms, potentially by reducing neuronal hyperactivity in the noradrenergic locus coeruleus (LC) via galanin receptor 1 (GalR1). We evaluated this mechanism by using RNAscope in situ hybridization to characterize GalR1 mRNA distribution in the dorsal pons and to compare galanin and GalR1 mRNA expression in tyrosine hydroxylase-positive (TH+) LC cells at baseline and following chronic morphine or precipitated withdrawal. We then used genetically altered mouse lines and pharmacology to test whether noradrenergic galanin (NE-Gal) modulates withdrawal symptoms. RNAscope revealed that, while GalR1 signal was evident in the dorsal pons, 80.7% of the signal was attributable to TH- neurons outside the LC. Galanin and TH mRNA were abundant in LC cells at baseline and were further increased by withdrawal, whereas low basal GalR1 mRNA expression was unaltered by chronic morphine or withdrawal. Naloxone-precipitated withdrawal symptoms in mice lacking NE-Gal (GalcKO-Dbh ) were largely similar to WT littermates, indicating that loss of NE-Gal does not exacerbate withdrawal. Complementary experiments using NE-Gal overexpressor mice (NE-Gal OX) and systemic administration of the galanin receptor agonist galnon revealed that increasing galanin signaling also failed to alter behavioral withdrawal, while suppressing noradrenergic transmission with the alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonist clonidine attenuated multiple symptoms. These results indicate that galanin does not acutely attenuate precipitated opioid withdrawal via an LC-specific mechanism, which has important implications for the general role of galanin in regulation of somatic and affective opioid responses and LC activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie L. Foster
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Ewa Galaj
- Addiction Biology Unit, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Saumya L. Karne
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Sergi Ferré
- Integrative Neurobiology Section, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - David Weinshenker
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA,Correspondence: David Weinshenker, PhD, Department of Human Genetics, 615 Michael St, Whitehead 301, Atlanta, GA 30322, , Fax: (404) 727-3949
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Foster SL, Galaj E, Karne SL, Ferré S, Weinshenker D. Cover Image. Addict Biol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/adb.13095] [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: 11/27/2022]
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Tillage RP, Foster SL, Lustberg D, Liles LC, McCann KE, Weinshenker D. Co-released norepinephrine and galanin act on different timescales to promote stress-induced anxiety-like behavior. Neuropsychopharmacology 2021; 46:1535-1543. [PMID: 33911187 PMCID: PMC8208976 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-021-01011-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [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: 01/08/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Both the noradrenergic and galaninergic systems have been implicated in stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders, and these two neuromodulators are co-released from the stress-responsive locus coeruleus (LC); however, the individual contributions of LC-derived norepinephrine (NE) and galanin to behavioral stress responses are unclear. Here we aimed to disentangle the functional roles of co-released NE and galanin in stress-induced behavior. We used foot shock, optogenetics, and behavioral pharmacology in wild-type (WT) mice and mice lacking either NE (Dbh-/-) or galanin (GalcKO-Dbh) specifically in noradrenergic neurons to isolate the roles of these co-transmitters in regulating anxiety-like behavior in the elevated zero maze (EZM) either immediately or 24 h following stress. Foot shock and optogenetic LC stimulation produced immediate anxiety-like behavior in WT mice, and the effects of foot shock persisted for 24 h. NE-deficient mice were resistant to the anxiogenic effects of acute stress and optogenetic LC stimulation, while mice lacking noradrenergic-derived galanin displayed typical increases in anxiety-like behavior. However, when tested 24 h after foot shock, both Dbh-/- and GalcKO-Dbh mice lacked normal expression of anxiety-like behavior. Pharmacological rescue of NE, but not galanin, in knockout mice during EZM testing was anxiogenic. In contrast, restoring galanin, but not NE, signaling during foot shock normalized stress-induced anxiety-like behavior 24 h later. These results indicate that NE and noradrenergic-derived galanin play complementary, but distinguishable roles in behavioral responses to stress. NE is required for the expression of acute stress-induced anxiety, while noradrenergic-derived galanin mediates the development of more persistent responses following a stressor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel P. Tillage
- grid.189967.80000 0001 0941 6502Department of Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Stephanie L. Foster
- grid.189967.80000 0001 0941 6502Department of Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Daniel Lustberg
- grid.189967.80000 0001 0941 6502Department of Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA USA
| | - L. Cameron Liles
- grid.189967.80000 0001 0941 6502Department of Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA USA
| | - Katharine E. McCann
- grid.189967.80000 0001 0941 6502Department of Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA USA
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Kang SS, Ahn EH, Liu X, Bryson M, Miller GW, Weinshenker D, Ye K. ApoE4 inhibition of VMAT2 in the locus coeruleus exacerbates Tau pathology in Alzheimer's disease. Acta Neuropathol 2021; 142:139-158. [PMID: 33895869 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-021-02315-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [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: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
ApoE4 enhances Tau neurotoxicity and promotes the early onset of AD. Pretangle Tau in the noradrenergic locus coeruleus (LC) is the earliest detectable AD-like pathology in the human brain. However, a direct relationship between ApoE4 and Tau in the LC has not been identified. Here we show that ApoE4 selectively binds to the vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) and inhibits neurotransmitter uptake. The exclusion of norepinephrine (NE) from synaptic vesicles leads to its oxidation into the toxic metabolite 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl glycolaldehyde (DOPEGAL), which subsequently activates cleavage of Tau at N368 by asparagine endopeptidase (AEP) and triggers LC neurodegeneration. Our data reveal that ApoE4 boosts Tau neurotoxicity via VMAT2 inhibition, reduces hippocampal volume, and induces cognitive dysfunction in an AEP- and Tau N368-dependent manner, while conversely ApoE3 binds Tau and protects it from cleavage. Thus, ApoE4 exacerbates Tau neurotoxicity by increasing VMAT2 vesicle leakage and facilitating AEP-mediated Tau proteolytic cleavage in the LC via DOPEGAL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seong Su Kang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, 615 Michael St. Whitehead BLDG Room #141, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Eun Hee Ahn
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, 615 Michael St. Whitehead BLDG Room #141, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Xia Liu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, 615 Michael St. Whitehead BLDG Room #141, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Matthew Bryson
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, 615 Michael St. Whitehead BLDG Room #141, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Gary W Miller
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, USA
| | - David Weinshenker
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Keqiang Ye
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, 615 Michael St. Whitehead BLDG Room #141, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
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Harbin N, Lustberg D, Weinshenker D, Hepler J. Regulator of G‐protein signaling 14 (RGS14) alters hippocampal pathology following excitotoxic injury due to status epilepticus. FASEB J 2021. [DOI: 10.1096/fasebj.2021.35.s1.02632] [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)
| | | | | | - John Hepler
- Pharmacology and Chemical BiologyEmory UniversityAtlantaGA
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Rutkowski TP, Purcell RH, Pollak RM, Grewenow SM, Gafford GM, Malone T, Khan UA, Schroeder JP, Epstein MP, Bassell GJ, Warren ST, Weinshenker D, Caspary T, Mulle JG. Behavioral changes and growth deficits in a CRISPR engineered mouse model of the schizophrenia-associated 3q29 deletion. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:772-783. [PMID: 30976085 PMCID: PMC6788962 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-019-0413-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [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: 11/26/2018] [Revised: 02/13/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The 3q29 deletion confers increased risk for neuropsychiatric phenotypes including intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and a >40-fold increased risk for schizophrenia. To investigate consequences of the 3q29 deletion in an experimental system, we used CRISPR/Cas9 technology to introduce a heterozygous deletion into the syntenic interval on C57BL/6 mouse chromosome 16. mRNA abundance for 20 of the 21 genes in the interval was reduced by ~50%, while protein levels were reduced for only a subset of these, suggesting a compensatory mechanism. Mice harboring the deletion manifested behavioral impairments in multiple domains including social interaction, cognitive function, acoustic startle, and amphetamine sensitivity, with some sex-dependent manifestations. In addition, 3q29 deletion mice showed reduced body weight throughout development consistent with the phenotype of 3q29 deletion syndrome patients. Of the genes within the interval, DLG1 has been hypothesized as a contributor to the neuropsychiatric phenotypes. However, we show that Dlg1+/- mice did not exhibit the behavioral deficits seen in mice harboring the full 3q29 deletion. These data demonstrate the following: the 3q29 deletion mice are a valuable experimental system that can be used to interrogate the biology of 3q29 deletion syndrome; behavioral manifestations of the 3q29 deletion may have sex-dependent effects; and mouse-specific behavior phenotypes associated with the 3q29 deletion are not solely due to haploinsufficiency of Dlg1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy P. Rutkowski
- grid.189967.80000 0001 0941 6502Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322 USA
| | - Ryan H. Purcell
- grid.189967.80000 0001 0941 6502Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322 USA
| | - Rebecca M. Pollak
- grid.189967.80000 0001 0941 6502Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322 USA
| | - Stephanie M. Grewenow
- grid.189967.80000 0001 0941 6502Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322 USA
| | - Georgette M. Gafford
- grid.189967.80000 0001 0941 6502Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322 USA
| | - Tamika Malone
- grid.189967.80000 0001 0941 6502Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322 USA
| | - Uswa A. Khan
- grid.189967.80000 0001 0941 6502Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322 USA
| | - Jason P. Schroeder
- grid.189967.80000 0001 0941 6502Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322 USA
| | - Michael P. Epstein
- grid.189967.80000 0001 0941 6502Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322 USA
| | - Gary J. Bassell
- grid.189967.80000 0001 0941 6502Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322 USA
| | - Stephen T. Warren
- grid.189967.80000 0001 0941 6502Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322 USA
| | - David Weinshenker
- grid.189967.80000 0001 0941 6502Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322 USA
| | - Tamara Caspary
- grid.189967.80000 0001 0941 6502Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322 USA
| | - Jennifer Gladys Mulle
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
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Squires KE, Gerber KJ, Tillman MC, Lustberg DJ, Montañez-Miranda C, Zhao M, Ramineni S, Scharer CD, Saha RN, Shu FJ, Schroeder JP, Ortlund EA, Weinshenker D, Dudek SM, Hepler JR. Human genetic variants disrupt RGS14 nuclear shuttling and regulation of LTP in hippocampal neurons. J Biol Chem 2021; 296:100024. [PMID: 33410399 PMCID: PMC7949046 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra120.016009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [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: 09/11/2020] [Revised: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The human genome contains vast genetic diversity as naturally occurring coding variants, yet the impact of these variants on protein function and physiology is poorly understood. RGS14 is a multifunctional signaling protein that suppresses synaptic plasticity in dendritic spines of hippocampal neurons. RGS14 also is a nucleocytoplasmic shuttling protein, suggesting that balanced nuclear import/export and dendritic spine localization are essential for RGS14 functions. We identified genetic variants L505R (LR) and R507Q (RQ) located within the nuclear export sequence (NES) of human RGS14. Here we report that RGS14 encoding LR or RQ profoundly impacts protein functions in hippocampal neurons. RGS14 membrane localization is regulated by binding Gαi-GDP, whereas RGS14 nuclear export is regulated by Exportin 1 (XPO1). Remarkably, LR and RQ variants disrupt RGS14 binding to Gαi1-GDP and XPO1, nucleocytoplasmic equilibrium, and capacity to inhibit long-term potentiation (LTP). Variant LR accumulates irreversibly in the nucleus, preventing RGS14 binding to Gαi1, localization to dendritic spines, and inhibitory actions on LTP induction, while variant RQ exhibits a mixed phenotype. When introduced into mice by CRISPR/Cas9, RGS14-LR protein expression was detected predominantly in the nuclei of neurons within hippocampus, central amygdala, piriform cortex, and striatum, brain regions associated with learning and synaptic plasticity. Whereas mice completely lacking RGS14 exhibit enhanced spatial learning, mice carrying variant LR exhibit normal spatial learning, suggesting that RGS14 may have distinct functions in the nucleus independent from those in dendrites and spines. These findings show that naturally occurring genetic variants can profoundly alter normal protein function, impacting physiology in unexpected ways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine E Squires
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Emory University, Atlanta Georgia, USA
| | - Kyle J Gerber
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Emory University, Atlanta Georgia, USA
| | | | - Daniel J Lustberg
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta Georgia, USA
| | | | - Meilan Zhao
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, Raleigh North Carolina, USA
| | - Suneela Ramineni
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Emory University, Atlanta Georgia, USA
| | | | - Ramendra N Saha
- Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of California-Merced, Merced California, USA
| | - Feng-Jue Shu
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Emory University, Atlanta Georgia, USA
| | - Jason P Schroeder
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta Georgia, USA
| | - Eric A Ortlund
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University, Atlanta Georgia, USA
| | - David Weinshenker
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta Georgia, USA
| | - Serena M Dudek
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, Raleigh North Carolina, USA
| | - John R Hepler
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Emory University, Atlanta Georgia, USA.
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Galloway C, McCann R, Kelberman M, Chawla S, Weinshenker D. The behavioral effects of virally induced human tau expression in the locus coeruleus of TgF344‐AD rats. Alzheimers Dement 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/alz.038175] [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: 11/06/2022]
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Lustberg D, Tillage RP, Bai Y, Pruitt M, Liles LC, Weinshenker D. Noradrenergic circuits in the forebrain control affective responses to novelty. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2020; 237:3337-3355. [PMID: 32821984 PMCID: PMC7572912 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-020-05615-8] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE In rodents, exposure to novel environments elicits initial anxiety-like behavior (neophobia) followed by intense exploration (neophilia) that gradually subsides as the environment becomes familiar. Thus, innate novelty-induced behaviors are useful indices of anxiety and motivation in animal models of psychiatric disease. Noradrenergic neurons are activated by novelty and implicated in exploratory and anxiety-like responses, but the role of norepinephrine (NE) in neophobia has not been clearly delineated. OBJECTIVE We sought to define the role of central NE transmission in neophilic and neophobic behaviors. METHODS We assessed dopamine β-hydroxylase knockout (Dbh -/-) mice lacking NE and their NE-competent (Dbh +/-) littermate controls in neophilic (novelty-induced locomotion; NIL) and neophobic (novelty-suppressed feeding; NSF) behavioral tests with subsequent quantification of brain-wide c-fos induction. We complimented the gene knockout approach with pharmacological interventions. RESULTS Dbh -/- mice exhibited blunted locomotor responses in the NIL task and completely lacked neophobia in the NSF test. Neophobia was rescued in Dbh -/- mice by acute pharmacological restoration of central NE with the synthetic precursor L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine (DOPS), and attenuated in control mice by the inhibitory α2-adrenergic autoreceptor agonist guanfacine. Following either NSF or NIL, Dbh -/- mice demonstrated reduced c-fos in the anterior cingulate cortex, medial septum, ventral hippocampus, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, and basolateral amygdala. CONCLUSION These findings indicate that central NE signaling is required for the expression of both neophilic and neophobic behaviors. Further, we describe a putative noradrenergic novelty network as a potential therapeutic target for treating anxiety and substance abuse disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Lustberg
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Rachel P Tillage
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Yu Bai
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Molly Pruitt
- University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - L Cameron Liles
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - David Weinshenker
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
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42
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Porter‐Stransky KA, Petko AK, Karne SL, Liles LC, Urs NM, Caron MG, Paladini CA, Weinshenker D. Loss of β-arrestin2 in D2 cells alters neuronal excitability in the nucleus accumbens and behavioral responses to psychostimulants and opioids. Addict Biol 2020; 25:e12823. [PMID: 31441201 DOI: 10.1111/adb.12823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [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: 02/21/2019] [Revised: 07/14/2019] [Accepted: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Psychostimulants and opioids increase dopamine (DA) neurotransmission, activating D1 and D2 G protein-coupled receptors. β-arrestin2 (βarr2) desensitizes and internalizes these receptors and initiates G protein-independent signaling. Previous work revealed that mice with a global or cell-specific knockout of βarr2 have altered responses to certain drugs; however, the effects of βarr2 on the excitability of medium spiny neurons (MSNs), and its role in mediating the rewarding effects of drugs of abuse are unknown. D1-Cre and D2-Cre transgenic mice were crossed with floxed βarr2 mice to eliminate βarr2 specifically in cells containing either D1 (D1βarr2-KO ) or D2 (D2βarr2-KO ) receptors. We used slice electrophysiology to characterize the role of βarr2 in modulating D1 and D2 nucleus accumbens MSN intrinsic excitability in response to DA and tested the locomotor-activating and rewarding effects of cocaine and morphine in these mice. Eliminating βarr2 attenuated the ability of DA to inhibit D2-MSNs and altered the DA-induced maximum firing rate in D1-MSNs. While D1βarr2-KO mice had mostly normal drug responses, D2βarr2-KO mice showed dose-dependent reductions in acute locomotor responses to cocaine and morphine, attenuated locomotor sensitization to cocaine, and blunted cocaine reward measured with conditioned place preference. Both D2βarr2-KO and D1βarr2-KO mice displayed an enhanced conditioned place preference for the highest dose of morphine. These results indicate that D1- and D2-derived βarr2 functionally contribute to DA-induced changes in MSN intrinsic excitability and behavioral responses to psychostimulants and opioids dose-dependently.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsten A. Porter‐Stransky
- Department of Biomedical Sciences Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine Kalamazoo MI USA
- Department of Human Genetics Emory University School of Medicine Atlanta GA USA
| | - Alyssa K. Petko
- University of Texas at San Antonio Neuroscience Institute, Department ofBiology University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio TX USA
| | - Saumya L. Karne
- Department of Human Genetics Emory University School of Medicine Atlanta GA USA
| | - L. Cameron Liles
- Department of Human Genetics Emory University School of Medicine Atlanta GA USA
| | - Nikhil M. Urs
- Duke University Medical Center Department of Cell Biology Durham NC USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics University of Florida College of Medicine Gainesville FL USA
| | - Marc G. Caron
- Duke University Medical Center Department of Cell Biology Durham NC USA
| | - Carlos A. Paladini
- University of Texas at San Antonio Neuroscience Institute, Department ofBiology University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio TX USA
| | - David Weinshenker
- Department of Human Genetics Emory University School of Medicine Atlanta GA USA
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Kelberman M, Keilholz S, Weinshenker D. What's That (Blue) Spot on my MRI? Multimodal Neuroimaging of the Locus Coeruleus in Neurodegenerative Disease. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:583421. [PMID: 33122996 PMCID: PMC7573566 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.583421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The locus coeruleus (LC) has long been underappreciated for its role in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and other neurodegenerative disorders. While AD and PD are distinct in clinical presentation, both are characterized by prodromal protein aggregation in the LC, late-stage degeneration of the LC, and comorbid conditions indicative of LC dysfunction. Many of these early studies were limited to post-mortem histological techniques due to the LC’s small size and location deep in the brainstem. Thus, there is a growing interest in utilizing in vivo imaging of the LC as a predictor of preclinical neurodegenerative processes and biomarker of disease progression. Simultaneously, neuroimaging in animal models of neurodegenerative disease holds promise for identifying early alterations to LC circuits, but has thus far been underutilized. While still in its infancy, a handful of studies have reported effects of single gene mutations and pathology on LC function in disease using various neuroimaging techniques. Furthermore, combining imaging and optogenetics or chemogenetics allows for interrogation of network connectivity in response to changes in LC activity. The purpose of this article is twofold: (1) to review what magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) have revealed about LC dysfunction in neurodegenerative disease and its potential as a biomarker in humans, and (2) to explore how animal models can be used to test hypotheses derived from clinical data and establish a mechanistic framework to inform LC-focused therapeutic interventions to alleviate symptoms and impede disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Kelberman
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Shella Keilholz
- The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - David Weinshenker
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
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Butkovich LM, Houser MC, Chalermpalanupap T, Porter-Stransky KA, Iannitelli AF, Boles JS, Lloyd GM, Coomes AS, Eidson LN, De Sousa Rodrigues ME, Oliver DL, Kelly SD, Chang J, Bengoa-Vergniory N, Wade-Martins R, Giasson BI, Joers V, Weinshenker D, Tansey MG. Transgenic Mice Expressing Human α-Synuclein in Noradrenergic Neurons Develop Locus Ceruleus Pathology and Nonmotor Features of Parkinson's Disease. J Neurosci 2020; 40:7559-7576. [PMID: 32868457 PMCID: PMC7511194 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1468-19.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [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: 06/23/2019] [Revised: 08/02/2020] [Accepted: 08/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Degeneration of locus ceruleus (LC) neurons and dysregulation of noradrenergic signaling are ubiquitous features of Parkinson's disease (PD). The LC is among the first brain regions affected by α-synuclein (asyn) pathology, yet how asyn affects these neurons remains unclear. LC-derived norepinephrine (NE) can stimulate neuroprotective mechanisms and modulate immune cells, while dysregulation of NE neurotransmission may exacerbate disease progression, particularly nonmotor symptoms, and contribute to the chronic neuroinflammation associated with PD pathology. Although transgenic mice overexpressing asyn have previously been developed, transgene expression is usually driven by pan-neuronal promoters and thus has not been selectively targeted to LC neurons. Here we report a novel transgenic mouse expressing human wild-type asyn under control of the noradrenergic-specific dopamine β-hydroxylase promoter (DBH-hSNCA). These mice developed oligomeric and conformation-specific asyn in LC neurons, alterations in hippocampal and LC microglial abundance, upregulated GFAP expression, degeneration of LC fibers, decreased striatal DA metabolism, and age-dependent behaviors reminiscent of nonmotor symptoms of PD that were rescued by adrenergic receptor antagonists. These mice provide novel insights into how asyn pathology affects LC neurons and how central noradrenergic dysfunction may contribute to early PD pathophysiology.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT ɑ-Synuclein (asyn) pathology and loss of neurons in the locus ceruleus (LC) are two of the most ubiquitous neuropathologic features of Parkinson's disease (PD). Dysregulated norepinephrine (NE) neurotransmission is associated with the nonmotor symptoms of PD, including sleep disturbances, emotional changes such as anxiety and depression, and cognitive decline. Importantly, the loss of central NE may contribute to the chronic inflammation in, and progression of, PD. We have generated a novel transgenic mouse expressing human asyn in LC neurons to investigate how increased asyn expression affects the function of the central noradrenergic transmission and associated behaviors. We report cytotoxic effects of oligomeric and conformation-specific asyn, astrogliosis, LC fiber degeneration, disruptions in striatal dopamine metabolism, and age-dependent alterations in nonmotor behaviors without inclusions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Termpanit Chalermpalanupap
- Laney Graduate School, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322
| | - Kirsten A Porter-Stransky
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49008
| | - Alexa F Iannitelli
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322
| | - Jake S Boles
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610
| | - Grace M Lloyd
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610
| | - Alexandra S Coomes
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610
| | - Lori N Eidson
- Department of Physiology, Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322
| | | | | | - Sean D Kelly
- Laney Graduate School, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322
| | - Jianjun Chang
- Laney Graduate School, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322
| | - Nora Bengoa-Vergniory
- Oxford Parkinson's Disease Centre, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QX, United Kingdom
| | - Richard Wade-Martins
- Oxford Parkinson's Disease Centre, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QX, United Kingdom
| | - Benoit I Giasson
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610
| | - Valerie Joers
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610
| | - David Weinshenker
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322
| | - Malú Gámez Tansey
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610
- Susan and Normal Fixel Chair in Parkinson's Disease, Normal Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, University of Florida Health, Gainesville, Florida 32610
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45
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Kang SS, Liu X, Ahn EH, Xiang J, Manfredsson FP, Yang X, Luo HR, Liles LC, Weinshenker D, Ye K. Norepinephrine metabolite DOPEGAL activates AEP and pathological Tau aggregation in locus coeruleus. J Clin Invest 2020; 130:422-437. [PMID: 31793911 DOI: 10.1172/jci130513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [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: 05/21/2019] [Accepted: 10/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Aberrant Tau inclusions in the locus coeruleus (LC) are the earliest detectable Alzheimer's disease-like (AD-like) neuropathology in the human brain. However, why LC neurons are selectively vulnerable to developing early Tau pathology and degenerating later in disease and whether the LC might seed the stereotypical spread of Tau pathology to the rest of the brain remain unclear. Here, we show that 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycolaldehyde, which is produced exclusively in noradrenergic neurons by monoamine oxidase A metabolism of norepinephrine, activated asparagine endopeptidase that cleaved Tau at residue N368 into aggregation- and propagation-prone forms, thus leading to LC degeneration and the spread of Tau pathology. Activation of asparagine endopeptidase-cleaved Tau aggregation in vitro and in intact cells was triggered by 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycolaldehyde, resulting in LC neurotoxicity and propagation of pathology to the forebrain. Thus, our findings reveal that norepinephrine metabolism and Tau cleavage represent the specific molecular mechanism underlying the selective vulnerability of LC neurons in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seong Su Kang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Xia Liu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Eun Hee Ahn
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Jie Xiang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Fredric P Manfredsson
- Translational Science and Molecular Medicine, Michigan State University, College of Human Medicine, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
| | - Xifei Yang
- Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Shenzhen, Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen, China
| | - Hongbo R Luo
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - L Cameron Liles
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - David Weinshenker
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Keqiang Ye
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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Lustberg D, Iannitelli AF, Tillage RP, Pruitt M, Liles LC, Weinshenker D. Central norepinephrine transmission is required for stress-induced repetitive behavior in two rodent models of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2020; 237:1973-1987. [PMID: 32313981 PMCID: PMC7961804 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-020-05512-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [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: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by repetitive behaviors exacerbated by stress. Many OCD patients do not respond to available pharmacotherapies, but neurosurgical ablation of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) can provide symptomatic relief. Although the ACC receives noradrenergic innervation and expresses adrenergic receptors (ARs), the involvement of norepinephrine (NE) in OCD has not been investigated. OBJECTIVE To determine the effects of genetic or pharmacological disruption of NE neurotransmission on marble burying (MB) and nestlet shredding (NS), two animal models of OCD. METHODS We assessed NE-deficient (Dbh -/-) mice and NE-competent (Dbh +/-) controls in MB and NS tasks. We also measured the effects of anti-adrenergic drugs on NS and MB in control mice and the effects of pharmacological restoration of central NE in Dbh -/- mice. Finally, we compared c-fos induction in the locus coeruleus (LC) and ACC of Dbh -/- and control mice following both tasks. RESULTS Dbh -/- mice virtually lacked MB and NS behaviors seen in control mice but did not differ in the elevated zero maze (EZM) model of general anxiety-like behavior. Pharmacological restoration of central NE synthesis in Dbh -/- mice completely rescued NS behavior, while NS and MB were suppressed in control mice by anti-adrenergic drugs. Expression of c-fos in the ACC was attenuated in Dbh -/- mice after MB and NS. CONCLUSION These findings support a role for NE transmission to the ACC in the expression of stress-induced compulsive behaviors and suggest further evaluation of anti-adrenergic drugs for OCD is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Lustberg
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, 615 Michael St., Whitehead 301, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Alexa F Iannitelli
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, 615 Michael St., Whitehead 301, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Rachel P Tillage
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, 615 Michael St., Whitehead 301, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Molly Pruitt
- University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - L Cameron Liles
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, 615 Michael St., Whitehead 301, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - David Weinshenker
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, 615 Michael St., Whitehead 301, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
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Branco RC, Burkett JP, Black CA, Winokur E, Elsworth W, Dhamsania RK, Lohr KM, Schroeder JP, Weinshenker D, Jovanovic T, Miller GW. Vesicular monoamine transporter 2 mediates fear behavior in mice. Genes Brain Behav 2020; 19:e12634. [PMID: 31898856 PMCID: PMC8170828 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12634] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Revised: 12/27/2019] [Accepted: 12/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
A subset of people exposed to a traumatic event develops post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which is associated with dysregulated fear behavior. Genetic variation in SLC18A2, the gene that encodes vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2), has been reported to affect risk for the development of PTSD in humans. Here, we use transgenic mice that express either 5% (VMAT2-LO mice) or 200% (VMAT2-HI mice) of wild-type levels of VMAT2 protein. We report that VMAT2-LO mice have reduced VMAT2 protein in the hippocampus and amygdala, impaired monoaminergic vesicular storage capacity in both the striatum and frontal cortex, decreased monoamine metabolite abundance and a greatly reduced capacity to release dopamine upon stimulation. Furthermore, VMAT2-LO mice showed exaggerated cued and contextual fear expression, altered fear habituation, inability to discriminate threat from safety cues, altered startle response compared with wild-type mice and an anxiogenic-like phenotype, but displayed no deficits in social function. By contrast, VMAT2-HI mice exhibited increased VMAT2 protein throughout the brain, higher vesicular storage capacity and greater dopamine release upon stimulation compared with wild-type controls. Behaviorally, VMAT2-HI mice were similar to wild-type mice in most assays, with some evidence of a reduced anxiety-like responses. Together, these data show that presynaptic monoamine function mediates PTSD-like outcomes in our mouse model, and suggest a causal link between reduced VMAT2 expression and fear behavior, consistent with the correlational relationship between VMAT2 genotype and PTSD risk in humans. Targeting this system is a potential strategy for the development of pharmacotherapies for disorders like PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel C. Branco
- Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - James P. Burkett
- Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Carlie A. Black
- Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Emily Winokur
- Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - William Elsworth
- Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Rohan K. Dhamsania
- Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Kelly M. Lohr
- Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Jason P. Schroeder
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - David Weinshenker
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Tanja Jovanovic
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Gary W. Miller
- Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Department of Pharmacology, Department of Neurology, Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
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48
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Rasmussen SA, Daenzer JMI, MacWilliams JA, Head ST, Williams MB, Geurts AM, Schroeder JP, Weinshenker D, Fridovich‐Keil JL. A galactose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase-null rat model of classic galactosemia mimics relevant patient outcomes and reveals tissue-specific and longitudinal differences in galactose metabolism. J Inherit Metab Dis 2020; 43:518-528. [PMID: 31845342 PMCID: PMC7318568 DOI: 10.1002/jimd.12205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2019] [Revised: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Classic galactosemia (CG) is a potentially lethal inborn error of metabolism, if untreated, that results from profound deficiency of galactose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase (GALT), the middle enzyme of the Leloir pathway of galactose metabolism. While newborn screening and rapid dietary restriction of galactose prevent or resolve the potentially lethal acute symptoms of CG, by mid-childhood, most treated patients experience significant complications. The mechanisms underlying these long-term deficits remain unclear. Here we introduce a new GALT-null rat model of CG and demonstrate that these rats display cataracts, cognitive, motor, and growth phenotypes reminiscent of patients outcomes. We further apply the GALT-null rats to test how well blood biomarkers, typically followed in patients, reflect metabolic perturbations in other, more relevant tissues. Our results document that the relative levels of galactose metabolites seen in GALT deficiency differ widely by tissue and age, and that red blood cell Gal-1P, the marker most commonly followed in patients, shows no significant association with Gal-1P in other tissues. The work reported here establishes our outbred GALT-null rats as an effective model for at least four complications characteristic of CG, and sets the stage for future studies addressing mechanism and testing the efficacy of novel candidate interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shauna A. Rasmussen
- Department of Human GeneticsEmory University School of Medicine, Emory UniversityAtlantaGeorgia
| | - Jennifer M. I. Daenzer
- Department of Human GeneticsEmory University School of Medicine, Emory UniversityAtlantaGeorgia
| | - Jessica A. MacWilliams
- Department of Human GeneticsEmory University School of Medicine, Emory UniversityAtlantaGeorgia
| | - S. Taylor Head
- Rollins School of Public Health, Graduate Program in BiostatisticsEmory UniversityAtlantaGeorgia
| | - Martine B. Williams
- Department of Human GeneticsEmory University School of Medicine, Emory UniversityAtlantaGeorgia
| | - Aron M. Geurts
- Gene Editing Rat Resource CenterMedical College of WisconsinMilwaukeeWisconsin
| | - Jason P. Schroeder
- Department of Human GeneticsEmory University School of Medicine, Emory UniversityAtlantaGeorgia
| | - David Weinshenker
- Department of Human GeneticsEmory University School of Medicine, Emory UniversityAtlantaGeorgia
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Tillage RP, Sciolino NR, Plummer NW, Lustberg D, Liles LC, Hsiang M, Powell JM, Smith KG, Jensen P, Weinshenker D. Elimination of galanin synthesis in noradrenergic neurons reduces galanin in select brain areas and promotes active coping behaviors. Brain Struct Funct 2020; 225:785-803. [PMID: 32065256 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-020-02035-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [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: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence indicates that disruption of galanin signaling is associated with neuropsychiatric disease, but the precise functions of this neuropeptide remain largely unresolved due to lack of tools for experimentally disrupting its transmission in a cell type-specific manner. To examine the function of galanin in the noradrenergic system, we generated and crossed two novel knock-in mouse lines to create animals lacking galanin specifically in noradrenergic neurons (GalcKO-Dbh). We observed reduced levels of galanin peptide in pons, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex of GalcKO-Dbh mice, indicating that noradrenergic neurons are a significant source of galanin to those brain regions, while midbrain and hypothalamic galanin levels were comparable to littermate controls. In these same brain regions, we observed no change in levels of norepinephrine or its major metabolite at baseline or after an acute stressor, suggesting that loss of galanin does not affect noradrenergic synthesis or turnover. GalcKO-Dbh mice had normal performance in tests of depression, learning, and motor-related behavior, but had an altered response in some anxiety-related tasks. Specifically, GalcKO-Dbh mice showed increased marble and shock probe burying and had a reduced latency to eat in a novel environment, indicative of a more proactive coping strategy. Together, these findings indicate that noradrenergic neurons provide a significant source of galanin to discrete brain areas, and noradrenergic-specific galanin opposes adaptive coping responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel P Tillage
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Whitehead 301, 615 Michael St., Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Natale R Sciolino
- Neurobiology Laboratory, Developmental Neurobiology Group, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Nicholas W Plummer
- Neurobiology Laboratory, Developmental Neurobiology Group, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Daniel Lustberg
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Whitehead 301, 615 Michael St., Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - L Cameron Liles
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Whitehead 301, 615 Michael St., Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Madeline Hsiang
- Neurobiology Laboratory, Developmental Neurobiology Group, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Jeanne M Powell
- Neurobiology Laboratory, Developmental Neurobiology Group, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Kathleen G Smith
- Neurobiology Laboratory, Developmental Neurobiology Group, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA
| | - Patricia Jensen
- Neurobiology Laboratory, Developmental Neurobiology Group, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA.
| | - David Weinshenker
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Whitehead 301, 615 Michael St., Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
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50
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Levey AI, Lah JJ, Hu WT, Wingo TS, Hales CM, Manzanares C, Tansey MG, Goldstein DS, Zhao L, Galasko DR, Edland SD, Hanfelt J, Weinshenker D. O4-11-05: A PROOF OF CONCEPT PHASE II STUDY REPURPOSING ATOMOXETINE FOR NEUROPROTECTION IN MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT: EVIDENCE FOR TARGET ENGAGEMENT, REGULATION OF CSF BIOMARKERS, AND DISEASE-MODIFYING POTENTIAL. Alzheimers Dement 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jalz.2019.06.4804] [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: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Allan I. Levey
- Emory University School of Medicine; Atlanta GA USA
- Goizueta Alzheimer's Disease Research Center; Atlanta GA USA
| | - James J. Lah
- Emory University School of Medicine; Atlanta GA USA
| | - William T. Hu
- School of Medicine; Emory University; Atlanta GA USA
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