Kemp GM, Altimimi HF, Nho Y, Heir R, Klyczek A, Stellwagen D. Sustained TNF signaling is required for the synaptic and anxiety-like behavioral response to acute stress.
Mol Psychiatry 2022;
27:4474-4484. [PMID:
36104437 PMCID:
PMC9734040 DOI:
10.1038/s41380-022-01737-x]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Acute stress triggers plasticity of forebrain synapses as well as behavioral changes. Here we reveal that Tumor Necrosis Factor α (TNF) is a required downstream mediator of the stress response in mice, necessary for stress-induced synaptic potentiation in the ventral hippocampus and for an increase in anxiety-like behaviour. Acute stress is sufficient to activate microglia, triggering the long-term release of TNF. Critically, on-going TNF signaling specifically in the ventral hippocampus is necessary to sustain both the stress-induced synaptic and behavioral changes, as these could be reversed hours after induction by antagonizing TNF signaling. This demonstrates that TNF maintains the synaptic and behavioral stress response in vivo, making TNF a potential novel therapeutic target for stress disorders.
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