scholarly journals Cocaine Administration and Its Abstinence Conditions Modulate Neuroglia

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (21) ◽  
pp. 7970
Author(s):  
Kinga Gawlińska ◽  
Małgorzata Frankowska ◽  
Dawid Gawliński ◽  
Marcin Piechota ◽  
Michał Korostyński ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Home Cage ◽  
Cell Activity ◽  
Lymphocyte Activation ◽  
Extinction Training ◽  
Rat Striatum ◽  
Cocaine Exposure ◽  
Self Administration ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Drug Abstinence

Cocaine induces neuronal changes as well as non-neuronal (astrocytes, microglia, oligodendroglia) mechanisms, but these changes can also be modulated by various types of drug abstinence. Due to the very complex and still incompletely understood nature of cocaine use disorder, understanding of the mechanisms involved in addictive behavior is necessary to further search for effective pharmacotherapy of this disease. The aim of this study was to investigate changes at the gene and protein levels associated with glial cell activity after cocaine exposure, as well as during early cocaine abstinence (3 days) with extinction training or in home cage isolation. Cocaine self-administration significantly decreased myelin regulatory factor (MYRF) and cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (CNP) expression in the hippocampus as well as pleckstrin (PLEK) and T-lymphocyte activation antigen (CD86) in the rat striatum. Depending on cocaine abstinence conditions, microglial PLEK expression was increased through extinction training but did not change in the home cage isolation. In addition, downregulation of gene expression associated with oligodendrocytes (CNP, MYRF) and microglia regulator of G protein signaling 1 (RGS1) was observed in the hippocampus, regardless of the type of drug abstinence, while downregulation of myelin and lymphocyte protein (MAL) expression was found only in rats exposed to abstinence in the home cage. Taken together, the presented results strongly suggest that cocaine abstinence evokes significant changes in gene expression associated with the proper functioning of glial cells, suggesting their significant involvement in adaptive changes in the brain associated with cocaine exposure. Interestingly, drug abstinence conditions are important factors influencing observed changes at the transcript levels of selected genes, which may be of clinical interest.

scholarly journals Cocaine induces paradigm-specific changes to the transcriptome within the ventral tegmental area

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rianne R. Campbell ◽  
Siwei Chen ◽  
Joy H. Beardwood ◽  
Alberto J. López ◽  
Lilyana V. Pham ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Ventral Tegmental Area ◽  
Home Cage ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Energy Regulation ◽  
Biological Processes ◽  
Cocaine Exposure ◽  
Self Administration ◽  
Drug Reinforcement ◽  
Ventral Tegmental

AbstractDuring the initial stages of drug use, cocaine-induced neuroadaptations within the ventral tegmental area (VTA) are critical for drug-associated cue learning and drug reinforcement processes. These neuroadaptations occur, in part, from alterations to the transcriptome. Although cocaine-induced transcriptional mechanisms within the VTA have been examined, various regimens and paradigms have been employed to examine candidate target genes. In order to identify key genes and biological processes regulating cocaine-induced processes, we employed genome-wide RNA-sequencing to analyze transcriptional profiles within the VTA from male mice that underwent one of four commonly used paradigms: acute home cage injections of cocaine, chronic home cage injections of cocaine, cocaine-conditioning, or intravenous-self administration of cocaine. We found that cocaine alters distinct sets of VTA genes within each exposure paradigm. Using behavioral measures from cocaine self-administering mice, we also found several genes whose expression patterns corelate with cocaine intake. In addition to overall gene expression levels, we identified several predicted upstream regulators of cocaine-induced transcription shared across all paradigms. Although distinct gene sets were altered across cocaine exposure paradigms, we found, from Gene Ontology (GO) term analysis, that biological processes important for energy regulation and synaptic plasticity were affected across all cocaine paradigms. Coexpression analysis also identified gene networks that are altered by cocaine. These data indicate that cocaine alters networks enriched with glial cell markers of the VTA that are involved in gene regulation and synaptic processes. Our analyses demonstrate that transcriptional changes within the VTA depend on the route, dose and context of cocaine exposure, and highlight several biological processes affected by cocaine. Overall, these findings provide a unique resource of gene expression data for future studies examining novel cocaine gene targets that regulate drug-associated behaviors.

scholarly journals Ibrutinib as a potential therapeutic for cocaine use disorder

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Spencer B. Huggett ◽  
Jeffrey S. Hatfield ◽  
Joshua D. Walters ◽  
John E. McGeary ◽  
Justine W. Welsh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Cocaine Exposure ◽  
Self Administration ◽  
Cocaine Use ◽  
Potential Therapeutics

AbstractCocaine use presents a worldwide public health problem with high socioeconomic cost. No current pharmacologic treatments are available for cocaine use disorder (CUD) or cocaine toxicity. To explore pharmaceutical treatments for tthis disorder and its sequelae we analyzed gene expression data from post-mortem brain tissue of individuals with CUD who died from cocaine-related causes with matched cocaine-free controls (n = 71, Mage = 39.9, 100% male, 49% with CUD, 3 samples/brain regions). To match molecular signatures from brain pathology with potential therapeutics, we leveraged the L1000 database honing in on neuronal mRNA profiles of 825 repurposable compounds (e.g., FDA approved). We identified 16 compounds that were negatively associated with CUD gene expression patterns across all brain regions (padj < 0.05), all of which outperformed current targets undergoing clinical trials for CUD (all padj > 0.05). An additional 43 compounds were positively associated with CUD expression. We performed an in silico follow-up potential therapeutics using independent transcriptome-wide in vitro (neuronal cocaine exposure; n = 18) and in vivo (mouse cocaine self-administration; n = 12–15) datasets to prioritize candidates for experimental validation. Among these medications, ibrutinib was consistently linked with the molecular profiles of both neuronal cocaine exposure and mouse cocaine self-administration. We assessed the therapeutic efficacy of ibrutinib using the Drosophila melanogaster model. Ibrutinib reduced cocaine-induced startle response and cocaine-induced seizures (n = 61–142 per group; sex: 51% female), despite increasing cocaine consumption. Our results suggest that ibrutinib could be used for the treatment of cocaine use disorder.

scholarly journals Ibrutinib as a Potential Therapeutic for Cocaine Use Disorder

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Spencer B. Huggett ◽  
Jeffrey S. Hatfield ◽  
Joshua D. Walters ◽  
John E. McGeary ◽  
Justine W. Welsh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Cocaine Exposure ◽  
Self Administration ◽  
Cocaine Use

ABSTRACTCocaine use presents a worldwide public health problem with high socioeconomic cost. Current treatments for cocaine use disorder (CUD) are suboptimal and rely primarily on behavioral interventions. To explore pharmaceutical treatments for CUD, we analyzed genome-wide gene expression data from publically availble human brain tissues (midbrain, hippocampus and prefrontal cortex neurons) from 71 individuals (mean age = 39.9, 100% male, 36 with CUD and 35 matched controls). We leveraged the L1000 database to investigate molecular associations between neuronal mRNA profiles from 825 repurposable compounds (e.g., FDA approved) with human CUD gene expression in the brain. We identified 16 compounds that were negatively associated with CUD gene expression patterns across all brain regions (padj < 0.05), all of which outperformed current targets undergoing clinical trials for CUD (all padj > 0.05). We tested the effectiveness of these compounds using independent transcriptome-wide in vitro (neuronal cocaine exposure; n=18) and in vivo (mouse cocaine self-administration; prefrontal cortex, hippocampus and midbrain; n = 12-15) datasets. Among these medications, Ibrutinib demonstrated negative associations with both neuronal cocaine exposure and mouse cocaine self-administration. To obtain experimental confirmation of therapeutic effects of Ibrutinib on CUD, we used the Drosophila melanogaster model, which enables highthroughput quantification of behavioral responses in defined genetic backgrounds and controlled environmental conditions. Ibrutinib altered cocaine-induced changes in startle response and reduced the occurrence of cocaine-induced seizures (n = 61-142 per group; sex: 51%female). Our results identify Ibrutinib, an FDA approved medication, as a potential therapeutic for cocaine neurotoxicity.

P.6.c.010 Prolonged induction of gene expression in rat striatum by cocaine self-administration

2014 ◽  
Vol 24 ◽  
pp. S680
Author(s):  
A. Sadakierska-Chudy ◽  
M. Frankowska ◽  
J. Miszkiel ◽  
E. Nowak ◽  
M. Filip
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Rat Striatum ◽  
Self Administration

scholarly journals Methamphetamine self‐administration alters gene expression in the rat striatum

2011 ◽  
Vol 25 (S1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Irina N. Krasnova ◽  
Margarit Chiflikyan ◽  
Zuzana Justinova ◽  
Bruce Ladenheim ◽  
Michael T. McCoy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Rat Striatum ◽  
Self Administration

scholarly journals Activation of lateral hypothalamic group III mGluRs suppresses drug-seeking following abstinence and cocaine-associated increases in excitatory drive to orexin/hypocretin cells

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiann W. Yeoh ◽  
Morgan H. James ◽  
Cameron D. Adams ◽  
Jaideep S. Bains ◽  
Takeshi Sakurai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Glutamate Release ◽  
Cell Activity ◽  
Cocaine Exposure ◽  
Self Administration ◽  
Drug Seeking ◽  
Group Iii ◽  
Lateral Hypothalamic ◽  
Cocaine Seeking ◽  
Presynaptic Plasticity ◽  
Seeking Behavior

AbstractThe perifornical/lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) orexin (hypocretin) system is involved in drug-seeking behavior elicited by drug-associated stimuli. Cocaine exposure is associated with presynaptic plasticity at LHA orexin cells such that excitatory input to orexin cells is enhanced, both acutely and into withdrawal. These changes may augment orexin cell reactivity to drug-related cues during abstinence and contribute to relapse-like behavior. Studies in hypothalamic slices from drug-naïve animals indicate that agonism of group III metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) reduces presynaptic glutamate release onto orexin cells. Therefore, we examined the group III mGluR system as a potential target to reduce orexin cell excitability in-vivo, and tested whether activating these receptors could normalize orexin cell activity following cocaine and reduce cocaine-seeking elicited by drug-associated stimuli during abstinence. First, we verified that group III mGluRs regulate orexin cell activity in vivo by showing that intra-LHA infusions of the selective agonist L-(+)-2-Amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid (L-AP4) reduces Fos expression in orexin cells following 24h food deprivation. Next, we extended these findings to show that intra-LHA L-AP4 infusions reduced discriminative stimulus-driven cocaine-seeking following withdrawal. L-AP4 had no effect on general motor activity of sucrose self-administration. Finally, using whole-cell patch clamp recordings from identified orexin cells in orexin-GFP transgenic mice, we show that enhanced presynaptic drive to orexin cells persists for up to 14d into withdrawal and that this plasticity is normalized by L-AP4. L-AP4 had no effect on measures of postsynaptic plasticity in cocaine-exposed animals. Together, these data indicate that agonism of LHA group III mGluRs reduces orexin cell activity in-vivo and is an effective strategy to suppress cocaine-seeking behavior following withdrawal. These effects are likely mediated, at least in part, by normalization of presynaptic plasticity at orexin cells that occurs as a result of cocaine exposure.

Extinction Training after Cocaine Self-Administration Influences the Epigenetic and Genetic Machinery Responsible for Glutamatergic Transporter Gene Expression in Male Rat Brain

Neuroscience ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 451 ◽  
pp. 99-110
Author(s):  
Irena Smaga ◽  
Kinga Gawlińska ◽  
Małgorzata Frankowska ◽  
Karolina Wydra ◽  
Anna Sadakierska-Chudy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Rat Brain ◽  
Extinction Training ◽  
Male Rat ◽  
Transporter Gene ◽  
Self Administration

scholarly journals A50 MODULATION OF GOBLET CELL ACTIVITY DURING GIARDIA DUODENALIS INFECTION: A ROLE FOR PAR2

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 6-7
Author(s):  
E Fekete ◽  
C B Amat ◽  
T Allain ◽  
M Hollenberg ◽  
K Mihara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Goblet Cell ◽  
Cysteine Protease ◽  
Protease Activity ◽  
Calcium Release ◽  
Cell Activity ◽  
Goblet Cells ◽  
Giardia Infection ◽  
Mucus Production ◽  
Mucin Gene

Abstract Background Giardia duodenalis has been shown to alter the structure of the intestinal mucus layers during infection via obscure mechanisms. We hypothesize that goblet cell activity may be disrupted in part due to proteolytic activation of protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) by Giardia proteases, resulting in disruption of mucus production and secretion by intestinal goblet cells. Aims Characterize alterations in goblet cell activity during Giardia infection, focusing on the roles of Giardia protease activity and PAR2. Methods Chinese hamster ovary cells transfected with nano-luciferase tagged PAR2 were incubated with Giardia NF or GSM trophozoites. Cleavage within the activation domain results in release of enzymes into the supernatant. Luminescence in the supernatant was measured as an indication of PAR cleavage by Giardia. LS174T, a human colonic mucus-producing cell line, was infected with Giardia trophozoites (isolates NF, WB, S2, and GSM). Prior to infection, trophozoites were treated with E64, a broad-spectrum cysteine protease inhibitor, and LS174T were treated with a PAR2 antagonist, a calcium chelator, or an ERK1/2 inhibitor. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) was performed for the MUC2 mucin gene. Wild-type (WT) and PAR2 knockout (KO) mice were infected with Giardia. Colonic mucus was stained using fluorescein-coupled wheat-germ agglutinin (WGA), and qPCR was performed for Muc2 and Muc5ac. Results Giardia trophozoites cleaved PAR2 within the N-terminal activation domain in a cysteine protease-dependent manner. Cleavage was isolate dependent, with isolates that show higher protease activity cleaving at a higher rate. High protease activity Giardia isolates increased MUC2 gene expression in LS714T. This increase was attenuated by inhibition of Giardia cysteine protease activity, and by antagonism of PAR2, inhibition of calcium release, or inhibition of ERK1/2 activity in LS174T cells. Both Muc2 and Muc5ac expression were upregulated in the colons of WT mice in response to Giardia infection, while in the jejunum Muc2 expression decreased and Muc5ac expression increased. In KO, no changes in gene expression were seen in the colon in response to Giardia infection, while in the jejunum, Muc2 expression was unchanged and Muc5ac expression decreased. Both WT infected and KO noninfected mice showed thinning of the colonic mucus layer compared to WT controls. There was some recovery in thickness in KO infected mice. Conclusions PAR2 plays a significant role in the regulation of mucin gene expression in mice and in a human colonic cell line. Results suggest that Giardia cysteine proteases cleave and activate PAR2, leading to calcium release and activation of the MAPK pathway in goblet cells, ultimately leading to altered mucin gene expression. Findings identify a novel regulatory pathway for mucus production by intestinal goblet cells. Funding Agencies CAG, CCC

scholarly journals Evaluation of potential tumor markers that may predict neoadjuvant treatment efficiency in rectal cancer

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatma Demet Arslan ◽  
Ayse Kocak ◽  
Cengiz Aydın ◽  
Emel Ebru Pala ◽  
Dilek Oncel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Rectal Cancer ◽  
Tumor Markers ◽  
Locally Advanced ◽  
Neoadjuvant Treatment ◽  
Beclin 1 ◽  
Tumor Regression Grade ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Study Gene Expression ◽  
Regression Grade

AbstractObjectivesThe recurrence of rectal cancer or its resistance to neoadjuvant treatment develops due to the adaptation to hypoxia, apoptosis or autophagy. Survivin, one of the inhibitors of apoptosis; Beclin 1, which is a positive regulator in the autophagy pathway; and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and carbonic anhydrase-9 (CA9), which are associated with tumor tissue hypoxia, may be related to resistance to treatment. Our aim was to evaluate the potential tumor markers that may help to monitor the response to neoadjuvant treatment in locally advanced rectal cancer (RC).MethodsTwenty-five patients with locally advanced RC were included in the study. Gene expression and protein levels of Beclin 1, Survivin, HIF-1α, and CA9 were analyzed in fresh tissue specimens and blood samples. The relationships of these markers to tumor staging and regression grade were evaluated.ResultsHigher blood CA9 gene expression levels and lower blood HIF-1α protein levels were found in the response group according to tumor regression grade. After neoadjuvant treatment, tissue Beclin 1 and blood Survivin gene expressions and tissue CA9, blood Beclin 1 and blood HIF-1α protein levels decreased significantly.ConclusionBeclin 1, Survivin, HIF-1α ve CA9 may help to predict the effects of the applied treatment approach.

scholarly journals Alterations of mesenchymal stromal cells in cerebrospinal fluid: insights from transcriptomics and an ALS clinical trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashley A. Krull ◽  
Deborah O. Setter ◽  
Tania F. Gendron ◽  
Sybil C. L. Hrstka ◽  
Michael J. Polzin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Cerebrospinal Fluid ◽  
Growth Factors ◽  
Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ◽  
Stromal Cells ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Therapeutic Benefit ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Intrathecal Space

Abstract Background Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have been studied with increasing intensity as clinicians and researchers strive to understand the ability of MSCs to modulate disease progression and promote tissue regeneration. As MSCs are used for diverse applications, it is important to appreciate how specific physiological environments may stimulate changes that alter the phenotype of the cells. One need for neuroregenerative applications is to characterize the spectrum of MSC responses to the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) environment after their injection into the intrathecal space. Mechanistic understanding of cellular biology in response to the CSF environment may predict the ability of MSCs to promote injury repair or provide neuroprotection in neurodegenerative diseases. Methods In this study, we characterized changes in morphology, metabolism, and gene expression occurring in human adipose-derived MSCs cultured in human (hCSF) or artificial CSF (aCSF) as well as examined relevant protein levels in the CSF of subjects treated with MSCs for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Results Our results demonstrated that, under intrathecal-like conditions, MSCs retained their morphology, though they became quiescent. Large-scale transcriptomic analysis of MSCs revealed a distinct gene expression profile for cells cultured in aCSF. The aCSF culture environment induced expression of genes related to angiogenesis and immunomodulation. In addition, MSCs in aCSF expressed genes encoding nutritional growth factors to expression levels at or above those of control cells. Furthermore, we observed a dose-dependent increase in growth factors and immunomodulatory cytokines in CSF from subjects with ALS treated intrathecally with autologous MSCs. Conclusions Overall, our results suggest that MSCs injected into the intrathecal space in ongoing clinical trials remain viable and may provide a therapeutic benefit to patients.

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