scholarly journals The role of DSCAM in the regulation of synaptic plasticity: possible involvement in neuropsychiatric disorders

2018 ◽  
Vol 78 (3) ◽  
pp. 210-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Stachowicz
CNS Spectrums ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 945-949 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan J. Stein ◽  
Willie M.U. Daniels ◽  
Jonathan Savitz ◽  
Brian H. Harvey

ABSTRACTWhile monoaminergic hypotheses of psychopathology remain popular, there has been growing interest in the role of neurotrophins in neuropsychiatric disorders. Basic laboratory work has documented the importance of neurotrophins in neuronal survival and synaptic plasticity, and a range of clinical studies has provided analogous evidence of their role in neuropathology. Work on gene variants in brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and associated changes in structural and function brain imaging, have further contributed to our understanding of this area. Much remains to be done to delineate fully the relevant mechanisms by which brain-derived neurotrophic factor and other neurotrophins contribute to psychopathology, and to develop targeted therapeutic interventions. Nevertheless, the neurotrophin hypothesis has already given impetus to a range of valuable research.


Author(s):  
Dong-Yu Kan ◽  
Su-Juan Li ◽  
Chen-Chen Liu ◽  
Ren-Rong Wu

Schizophrenia is a chronic and severe mental disorder with antipsychotics as primary medications, but the antipsychotic-induced metabolic side effects may contribute to the elevated risk of overall morbidity and mortality in patients with psych-iatric diseases. With the development in sequencing technology and bioinformatics, dysbiosis has been shown to contribute to body weight gain and metabolic dysfunction. However, the role of gut microbiota in the antipsychotic-induced metabolic alteration remains unknown. In this paper, we reviewed the recent studies of the gut microbiota with psychiatric disorders and antipsychotic-induced metabolic dysfunction. Patients with neuropsychiatric disorders may have a different composi-tion of gut microbiota compared with healthy controls. In addition, it seems that the use of antipsychotics is concurrently associated with both altered composition of gut microbiota and metabolic disturbance. Further study is needed to address the role of gut microbiota in the development of neuropsychiatric disorders and antipsychotic-induced metabolic disturbance, to develop novel therapeutics for both neuropsychiatric disorders and metabolic dysfunction.


2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (14) ◽  
pp. 2004-2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Fuenzalida ◽  
Miguel Ángel Pérez ◽  
Hugo R. Arias

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 341-347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michele Iovino ◽  
Tullio Messana ◽  
Giovanni De Pergola ◽  
Emanuela Iovino ◽  
Franca Dicuonzo ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (15) ◽  
pp. 7887
Author(s):  
Carmen Nanclares ◽  
Andres Mateo Baraibar ◽  
Alfonso Araque ◽  
Paulo Kofuji

Recent studies implicate astrocytes in Alzheimer’s disease (AD); however, their role in pathogenesis is poorly understood. Astrocytes have well-established functions in supportive functions such as extracellular ionic homeostasis, structural support, and neurovascular coupling. However, emerging research on astrocytic function in the healthy brain also indicates their role in regulating synaptic plasticity and neuronal excitability via the release of neuroactive substances named gliotransmitters. Here, we review how this “active” role of astrocytes at synapses could contribute to synaptic and neuronal network dysfunction and cognitive impairment in AD.


Biomolecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 359
Author(s):  
Maximilian Lenz ◽  
Amelie Eichler ◽  
Andreas Vlachos

Inflammation of the central nervous system can be triggered by endogenous and exogenous stimuli such as local or systemic infection, trauma, and stroke. In addition to neurodegeneration and cell death, alterations in physiological brain functions are often associated with neuroinflammation. Robust experimental evidence has demonstrated that inflammatory cytokines affect the ability of neurons to express plasticity. It has been well-established that inflammation-associated alterations in synaptic plasticity contribute to the development of neuropsychiatric symptoms. Nevertheless, diagnostic approaches and interventional strategies to restore inflammatory deficits in synaptic plasticity are limited. Here, we review recent findings on inflammation-associated alterations in synaptic plasticity and the potential role of the blood–brain interface, i.e., the blood–brain barrier, in modulating synaptic plasticity. Based on recent findings indicating that brain stimulation promotes plasticity and modulates vascular function, we argue that clinically employed non-invasive brain stimulation techniques, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation, could be used for monitoring and modulating inflammation-induced alterations in synaptic plasticity.


Biomaterials ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 34 (38) ◽  
pp. 10172-10181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liang Chen ◽  
Yanyan Miao ◽  
Lin Chen ◽  
Peipei Jin ◽  
Yingying Zha ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Ahmed Eltokhi ◽  
Miguel A. Gonzalez-Lozano ◽  
Lars-Lennart Oettl ◽  
Andrey Rozov ◽  
Claudia Pitzer ◽  
...  

AbstractMutations in SHANK genes play an undisputed role in neuropsychiatric disorders. Until now, research has focused on the postsynaptic function of SHANKs, and prominent postsynaptic alterations in glutamatergic signal transmission have been reported in Shank KO mouse models. Recent studies have also suggested a possible presynaptic function of SHANK proteins, but these remain poorly defined. In this study, we examined how SHANK2 can mediate electrophysiological, molecular, and behavioral effects by conditionally overexpressing either wild-type SHANK2A or the extrasynaptic SHANK2A(R462X) variant. SHANK2A overexpression affected pre- and postsynaptic targets and revealed a reversible, development-dependent autism spectrum disorder-like behavior. SHANK2A also mediated redistribution of Ca2+-permeable AMPA receptors between apical and basal hippocampal CA1 dendrites, leading to impaired synaptic plasticity in the basal dendrites. Moreover, SHANK2A overexpression reduced social interaction and increased the excitatory noise in the olfactory cortex during odor processing. In contrast, overexpression of the extrasynaptic SHANK2A(R462X) variant did not impair hippocampal synaptic plasticity, but still altered the expression of presynaptic/axonal signaling proteins. We also observed an attention-deficit/hyperactivity-like behavior and improved social interaction along with enhanced signal-to-noise ratio in cortical odor processing. Our results suggest that the disruption of pre- and postsynaptic SHANK2 functions caused by SHANK2 mutations has a strong impact on social behavior. These findings indicate that pre- and postsynaptic SHANK2 actions cooperate for normal neuronal function, and that an imbalance between these functions may lead to different neuropsychiatric disorders.


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