scholarly journals Is There a Glutathione Centered Redox Dysregulation Subtype of Schizophrenia?

Antioxidants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1703
Author(s):  
Lena Palaniyappan ◽  
Min Tae M. Park ◽  
Peter Jeon ◽  
Roberto Limongi ◽  
Kun Yang ◽  
...  

Schizophrenia continues to be an illness with poor outcome. Most mechanistic changes occur many years before the first episode of schizophrenia; these are not reversible after the illness onset. A developmental mechanism that is still modifiable in adult life may center on intracortical glutathione (GSH). A large body of pre-clinical data has suggested the possibility of notable GSH-deficit in a subgroup of patients with schizophrenia. Nevertheless, studies of intracortical GSH are not conclusive in this regard. In this review, we highlight the recent ultra-high field magnetic resonance spectroscopic studies linking GSH to critical outcome measures across various stages of schizophrenia. We discuss the methodological steps required to conclusively establish or refute the persistence of GSH-deficit subtype and clarify the role of the central antioxidant system in disrupting the brain structure and connectivity in the early stages of schizophrenia. We propose in-vivo GSH quantification for patient selection in forthcoming antioxidant trials in psychosis. This review offers directions for a promising non-dopaminergic early intervention approach in schizophrenia.

Author(s):  
Lena Palaniyappan ◽  
Min Tae M. Park ◽  
Peter Jeon ◽  
Roberto Limongi ◽  
Kun Yang ◽  
...  

Schizophrenia continues to be an illness with poor outcome. Most mechanistic changes occur many years before the first episode of schizophrenia; these are not reversible after the illness onset. A developmental mechanism that is still modifiable in adult life may center on intracortical glutathione (GSH). A large body of pre-clinical data has suggested the possibility of notable GSH-deficit in a subgroup of patients with schizophrenia. Nevertheless, studies of intracortical GSH are not conclusive in this regard. In this review, we highlight the recent ultra-high field magnetic resonance spectroscopic studies linking GSH to critical outcome measures across various stages of schizophrenia. We discuss the methodological steps required to conclusively establish or refute the persistence of GSH-deficit subtype and clarify the role of the central antioxidant system in disrupting the brain structure and connectivity in the early stages of schizophrenia. We propose in-vivo GSH quantification for patient selection in forthcoming antioxidant trials in psychosis. This review offers directions for a promising non-dopaminergic early intervention approach in schizophrenia.


Author(s):  
Marlaina R. Stocco ◽  
Ahmed A. El-Sherbeni ◽  
Bin Zhao ◽  
Maria Novalen ◽  
Rachel F. Tyndale

Abstract Rationale Cytochrome P450 2D (CYP2D) enzymes metabolize many addictive drugs, including methamphetamine. Variable CYP2D metabolism in the brain may alter CNS drug/metabolite concentrations, consequently affecting addiction liability and neuropsychiatric outcomes; components of these can be modeled by behavioral sensitization in rats. Methods To investigate the role of CYP2D in the brain in methamphetamine-induced behavioral sensitization, rats were pretreated centrally with a CYP2D irreversible inhibitor (or vehicle) 20 h prior to each of 7 daily methamphetamine (0.5 mg/kg subcutaneous) injections. In vivo brain microdialysis was used to assess brain drug and metabolite concentrations, and neurotransmitter release. Results CYP2D inhibitor (versus vehicle) pretreatment enhanced methamphetamine-induced stereotypy response sensitization. CYP2D inhibitor pretreatment increased brain methamphetamine concentrations and decreased the brain p-hydroxylation metabolic ratio. With microdialysis conducted on days 1 and 7, CYP2D inhibitor pretreatment exacerbated stereotypy sensitization and enhanced dopamine and serotonin release in the dorsal striatum. Day 1 brain methamphetamine and amphetamine concentrations correlated with dopamine and serotonin release, which in turn correlated with the stereotypy response slope across sessions (i.e., day 1 through day 7), used as a measure of sensitization. Conclusions CYP2D-mediated methamphetamine metabolism in the brain is sufficient to alter behavioral sensitization, brain drug concentrations, and striatal dopamine and serotonin release. Moreover, day 1 methamphetamine-induced neurotransmitter release may be an important predictor of subsequent behavioral sensitization. This suggests the novel contribution of CYP2D in the brain to methamphetamine-induced behavioral sensitization and suggests that the wide variation in human brain CYP2D6 may contribute to differential methamphetamine responses and chronic effects.


Biomedicines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 252
Author(s):  
Jacopo Meldolesi

Biomarkers are molecules that are variable in their origin, nature, and mechanism of action; they are of great relevance in biology and also in medicine because of their specific connection with a single or several diseases. Biomarkers are of two types, which in some cases are operative with each other. Fluid biomarkers, started around 2000, are generated in fluid from specific proteins/peptides and miRNAs accumulated within two extracellular fluids, either the central spinal fluid or blood plasma. The switch of these proteins/peptides and miRNAs, from free to segregated within extracellular vesicles, has induced certain advantages including higher levels within fluids and lower operative expenses. Imaging biomarkers, started around 2004, are identified in vivo upon their binding by radiolabeled molecules subsequently revealed in the brain by positron emission tomography and/or other imaging techniques. A positive point for the latter approach is the quantitation of results, but expenses are much higher. At present, both types of biomarker are being extensively employed to study Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases, investigated from the presymptomatic to mature stages. In conclusion, biomarkers have revolutionized scientific and medical research and practice. Diagnosis, which is often inadequate when based on medical criteria only, has been recently improved by the multiplicity and specificity of biomarkers. Analogous results have been obtained for prognosis. In contrast, improvement of therapy has been limited or fully absent, especially for Alzheimer’s in which progress has been inadequate. An urgent need at hand is therefore the progress of a new drug trial design together with patient management in clinical practice.


Author(s):  
Jelena Damm ◽  
Joachim Roth ◽  
Rüdiger Gerstberger ◽  
Christoph Rummel

AbstractBackground:Studies with NF-IL6-deficient mice indicate that this transcription factor plays a dual role during systemic inflammation with pro- and anti-inflammatory capacities. Here, we aimed to characterize the role of NF-IL6 specifically within the brain.Methods:In this study, we tested the capacity of short interfering (si) RNA to silence the inflammatory transcription factor nuclear factor-interleukin 6 (NF-IL6) in brain cells underResults:In cells of a mixed neuronal and glial primary culture from the ratConclusions:This approach was, thus, not suitable to characterize the role NF-IL6 in the brain


Author(s):  
Tomas T. Roos ◽  
Megg G. Garcia ◽  
Isak Martinsson ◽  
Rana Mabrouk ◽  
Bodil Israelsson ◽  
...  

AbstractThe amyloid-beta peptide (Aβ) is thought to have prion-like properties promoting its spread throughout the brain in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, the cellular mechanism(s) of this spread remains unclear. Here, we show an important role of intracellular Aβ in its prion-like spread. We demonstrate that an intracellular source of Aβ can induce amyloid plaques in vivo via hippocampal injection. We show that hippocampal injection of mouse AD brain homogenate not only induces plaques, but also damages interneurons and affects intracellular Aβ levels in synaptically connected brain areas, paralleling cellular changes seen in AD. Furthermore, in a primary neuron AD model, exposure of picomolar amounts of brain-derived Aβ leads to an apparent redistribution of Aβ from soma to processes and dystrophic neurites. We also observe that such neuritic dystrophies associate with plaque formation in AD-transgenic mice. Finally, using cellular models, we propose a mechanism for how intracellular accumulation of Aβ disturbs homeostatic control of Aβ levels and can contribute to the up to 10,000-fold increase of Aβ in the AD brain. Our data indicate an essential role for intracellular prion-like Aβ and its synaptic spread in the pathogenesis of AD.


Development ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 128 (23) ◽  
pp. 4881-4890 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carole Mathis ◽  
Natalia Denisenko-Nehrbass ◽  
Jean-Antoine Girault ◽  
Emiliana Borrelli

The membrane of myelinated axons is divided into functionally distinct domains characterized by the enrichment of specific proteins. The mechanisms responsible for this organization have not been fully identified. To further address the role of oligodendrocytes in the functional segmentation of the axolemma in vivo, the distribution of nodal (Na+ channels, ankyrin G), paranodal (paranodin/contactin-associated-protein) and juxtaparanodal (Kv1.1 K+ channels) axonal markers, was studied in the brain of MBP-TK and jimpy mice. In MBP-TK transgenic mice, oligodendrocyte ablation was selectively induced by FIAU treatment before and during the onset of myelination. In jimpy mice, oligodendrocytes degenerate spontaneously within the first postnatal weeks after the onset of myelination. Interestingly, in MBP-TK mice treated for 1-20 days with FIAU, despite the ablation of more than 95% of oligodendrocytes, the protein levels of all tested nodal markers was unaltered. Nevertheless, these proteins failed to cluster in the nodal regions. By contrast, in jimpy mice, despite a diffused localization of paranodin, the formation of nodal clusters of Na+ channels and ankyrin G was observed. Furthermore, K+ channels clusters were transiently visible, but were in direct contact with nodal markers. These results demonstrate that the organization of functional domains in myelinated axons is oligodendrocyte dependent. They also show that the presence of these cells is a requirement for the maintenance of nodal and paranodal regions.


2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S216-S217
Author(s):  
Chao Ma ◽  
Yan Wu ◽  
Pei Chen ◽  
Yuan Jia ◽  
Dongqing Yin ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Our previous study indicated a therapeutic effect of Shi-Zhen-An-Shen-Tang (SZAST), a Chinese herb formula, on schizophrenia, but the related mechanism is unknown(citation). A large body of evidence suggests the important role of white matter of the brain in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of SZAST on schizophrenia with demyelinated mice. Methods Male C57BL/6 mice were given mixed cuprizone (CPZ, a copper chelator, 0.2 %, w/w) rodent chow for six successive weeks to induce demyelination. During the last two weeks, mice were given an oral gavage of saline, or SZAST of three different doses (a low dose of 5.5g·kg-1·d-1, a medium dose of 8.24g·kg-1·d-1, or a high dose of 10.98 g·kg-1·d-1), or quetiapine, respectively. Behavioral tests were conducted after the last treatment. Meanwhile, the expression of myelin basic protein (MBP) and neuregulin-1(NRG1) in the brain was tested by immunohistochemistry staining or Western Blot. Results Mice exposed to CPZ for six weeks showed obvious schizophrenia-like behaviors, including lower nest-building activity, sensory gating activity, and higher locomotor activity. CPZ-fed mice also displayed a lower myelin density in the corpus callosum, hippocampus, and cerebral cortex and a reduction of MBP and NRG1 protein in the hippocampus compared with controls. Both quetiapine and SZAST significantly alleviated the abnormal schizophrenia-like behaviors and the impairment of myelin sheath in CPZ-fed mice, however, SZAST with medium dose showed better neuroprotective effect than the low dose or the high dose of SZAST. Furthermore, the expression of NRG1protein in the hippocampus was slightly, but not significantly increased in all SZAST-treated and quetiapine-treated groups. Discussion These results indicate that the neuroprotective effect of SZAST in demyelinated mice might partially relate to remyelination in the hippocampus in CPZ-fed mice.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmanuelle Flatt ◽  
Valérie A. McLin ◽  
Olivier Braissant ◽  
Katarzyna Pierzchala ◽  
Paola Mastromarino ◽  
...  

AbstractType C hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a neuropsychiatric disease caused by chronic liver disease. Management of type C HE remains an important challenge because treatment options are limited. Both the antibiotic rifaximin and probiotics have been reported to reduce the symptoms of HE, but longitudinal studies assessing their effects on brain metabolism are lacking and the molecular mechanisms underpinning their effects are not fully understood. Therefore, we evaluated in detail the effects of these different treatments on the neurometabolic changes associated with type C HE using a multimodal approach including ultra-high field in vivo 1H MRS. We analyzed longitudinally the effect of rifaximin alone or in combination with the probiotic Vivomixx on the brain metabolic profile in the hippocampus and cerebellum of bile duct ligated (BDL) rats, an established model of type C HE. Overall, while rifaximin alone appeared to induce no significant effect on the neurometabolic profile of BDL rats, its association with the probiotic resulted in more attenuated neurometabolic alterations in BDL rats followed longitudinally (i.e. a smaller increase in Gln and milder decrease in Glu and Cr levels). Given that both rifaximin and some probiotics are used in the treatment of HE, the implications of these findings may be clinically relevant.


2005 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 2000-2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niklas Finnberg ◽  
Joshua J. Gruber ◽  
Peiwen Fei ◽  
Dorothea Rudolph ◽  
Anka Bric ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT DR5 (also called TRAIL receptor 2 and KILLER) is an apoptosis-inducing membrane receptor for tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (also called TRAIL and Apo2 ligand). DR5 is a transcriptional target of p53, and its overexpression induces cell death in vitro. However, the in vivo biology of DR5 has remained largely unexplored. To better understand the role of DR5 in development and in adult tissues, we have created a knockout mouse lacking DR5. This mouse is viable and develops normally with the exception of having an enlarged thymus. We show that DR5 is not expressed in developing embryos but is present in the decidua and chorion early in development. DR5-null mouse embryo fibroblasts expressing E1A are resistant to treatment with TRAIL, suggesting that DR5 may be the primary proapoptotic receptor for TRAIL in the mouse. When exposed to ionizing radiation, DR5-null tissues exhibit reduced amounts of apoptosis compared to wild-type thymus, spleen, Peyer's patches, and the white matter of the brain. In the ileum, colon, and stomach, DR5 deficiency was associated with a subtle phenotype of radiation-induced cell death. These results indicate that DR5 has a limited role during embryogenesis and early stages of development but plays an organ-specific role in the response to DNA-damaging stimuli.


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