Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mohammad Saied Salehi, Inga D. Neumann, Benjamin Jurek, Sareh Pandamooz
Summary: This study established a hypothalamic neuronal spheroid model and found that both OXT and AVP treatment increased cellular proliferation mainly mediated by the AVP receptor 1a. Additionally, the OXT receptor OXTR significantly contributed to the observed proliferative effect.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Magdalena Meyer, Benjamin Jurek, Mercedes Alfonso-Prieto, Rui Ribeiro, Vladimir M. Milenkovic, Julia Winter, Petra Hoffmann, Christian H. Wetzel, Alejandro Giorgetti, Paolo Carloni, Inga D. Neumann
Summary: This study reveals the cellular mechanism linking the oxytocin receptor gene mutation (OXTR rs4686302 SNP) with genetic dysregulations associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The mutation leads to increased OXTR protein stability, changes in Ca2+ dynamics, and reduced activation of the MAPK pathway. Whole-genome and RNA sequencing analysis showed numerous differentially regulated genes in the mutant cells, including 429 genes associated with ASD. Computational modeling suggested that the OXTR mutation affects downstream events by altering receptor activation and signaling, consistent with the in vitro results.
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Iris C. Reiner, Gerald Gimpl, Manfred E. Beutel, Marian J. Bakermans-Kranenburg, Helge Frieling
Summary: This study found that plasma and urinary oxytocin levels, as well as OXTR DNA methylation patterns, were relatively stable within individuals. Non-remitting depressed patients had significantly lower urine oxytocin levels before and after psychotherapy treatment, and different methylation patterns were observed. These results indicate that oxytocin-related markers may predict inpatient treatment outcomes of clinically depressed patients.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Stefano Anzani, Loreta Cannito, Fabio Bellia, Alberto Di Domenico, Bernardo Dell'Osso, Riccardo Palumbo, Claudio D'Addario
Summary: Individual differences in temporal and probabilistic discounting are associated with a wide range of life outcomes. Traditional approaches have focused on impulsiveness and cognitive control skills, on goal-oriented personality traits as well as on the psychological perception of time. More recently, literature started to consider the role of social and contextual factors in discounting behavior.
Review
Neurosciences
Jinbao Wei, Huanrui Zheng, Guokai Li, Zichun Chen, Gengjing Fang, Jianying Yan
Summary: Oxytocin and its receptor, OXTR, play important roles in regulating social behaviors and cognition. The oxytocin/OXTR system in the brain activates intracellular signaling pathways to affect neuronal functions and mediate physiological activities. Variations and modifications in the OXTR gene have been associated with psychiatric disorders and behavioral abnormalities.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Biological
Carles Tapias-Espinosa, Toni Canete, Daniel Sampedro-Viana, Tomasz Brudek, Anna Kaihoj, Ignasi Oliveras, Adolf Tobena, Susana Aznar, Alberto Fernandez-Teruel
Summary: The study examined the effects of peripheral oxytocin administration on PPI in inbred and outbred rats, showing that oxytocin increased PPI in outbred rats and attenuated PPI deficits in inbred rats. The differential effects were associated with basal differences in oxytocin-mediated mechanisms in the mPFC, demonstrating potential antipsychotic-like effects of oxytocin.
PHYSIOLOGY & BEHAVIOR
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marta Broniarczyk-Czarniak, Janusz Szemraj, Janusz Smigielski, Piotr Galecki
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the expression of oxytocin and vasopressin genes in patients with schizophrenia and their relationship with the severity of the illness. The results showed that the expression of OXT and AVPR1a genes was lower in schizophrenia patients, while the expression of OXTR and AVP genes was higher. Furthermore, the expression of OXT gene was significantly correlated with the severity of depressive symptoms.
CURRENT ISSUES IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zainab Al-Ali, Akeel Abed Yasseen, Arafat Al-Dujailli, Ahmed Jafar Al-Karaqully, Katherine Ann McAllister, Alaa Salah Jumaah
Summary: This study evaluated the clinical utility of blood OXT levels and OXTR genotype as biomarkers for autism and its severity in a pediatric population in Iraq. Results showed that patients with ASD had significantly higher OXT levels compared to controls, along with differences in OXTR genotype and allele distributions.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Joshua S. Danoff, Emma A. Page, Allison M. Perkeybile, William M. Kenkel, Jason R. Yee, Craig F. Ferris, C. Sue Carter, Jessica J. Connelly
Summary: The oxytocin receptor gene (Oxtr) in the mouse brain has alternative transcripts, each with different functions. In the study on prairie voles, researchers identified seven distinct Oxtr transcripts and demonstrated that oxytocin administration during pregnancy alters the expression of specific transcripts. These findings have implications for understanding null mutant models and human birth and behavior.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mutaz Amin, Rongling Wu, Claudia Gragnoli
Summary: The oxytocin system plays important roles in social bonding, reproduction, and metabolic processes. Variants in the OXTR gene have been found to be associated with increased risk of overeating, cardiovascular diseases, and type 2 diabetes. Our study investigated the OXTR gene in 212 Italian families with a history of type 2 diabetes and identified several variants, providing insights into the genetic susceptibility to type 2 diabetes in Italian families.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tuanjie Huang, Fangxia Guan, Julio Licinio, Ma-Li Wong, Yunlei Yang
Summary: This study reveals that the neuropeptide oxytocin increases anxiety by activating OXTr neurons in the septal region of the brain, which project inhibitory GABA inputs to the horizontal diagonal band of Broca (HDB). The activation of these pathways induces anxiety-like behaviors, shedding light on the complex role of oxytocin in modulating emotions.
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Angela C. Incollingo Rodriguez, Laura Smith, Rebeca Harris, Benjamin C. Nephew, Hudson P. Santos, Chris Murgatroyd
Summary: This study found that the oxytocinergic system may modulate sensitivity to prenatal stress in the development of postnatal mood and anxiety disorders in Latina mothers. Mothers with low oxytocin levels and low oxytocin receptor methylation were more likely to experience postnatal depression and anxiety symptoms, especially if they had higher levels of acculturation. Furthermore, carriers of the G-allele at rs53576 had significant relationships between prenatal psychosocial factors (discrimination and acculturation) and postnatal depression and anxiety.
PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Karolina Pierzynowska, Lidia Gaffke, Magdalena Zabinska, Zuzanna Cyske, Estera Rintz, Karolina Wisniewska, Magdalena Podlacha, Grzegorz Wegrzyn
Summary: The oxytocin receptor (OXTR) is responsible for signal transduction after binding with oxytocin, and it plays a role in both maternal behavior and nervous system development. Dysfunctions and polymorphisms in OXTR can lead to various diseases, including mental disorders and reproductive organ problems. Recent studies also show that changes in OXTR levels and aggregation can affect the development of inherited metabolic diseases.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Kaustubh Sharma, Armita A. Govar, Bandana Ghimire, Katsuhiko Nishimori, Elizabeth Hammock, Ryoichi Teruyama
Summary: AVPV-OXTR neurons in postpartum female mice play a crucial role in the neural circuitry that regulates maternal behavior.
JOURNAL OF NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Elena Conte, Adele Romano, Michela De Bellis, Marialuisa de Ceglia, Maria Rosaria Carratu, Silvana Gaetani, Fatima Maqoud, Domenico Tricarico, Claudia Camerino
Summary: In this study, the upregulation of Oxtr and TRPV1 gene expressions in skeletal muscle in response to cold acclimation was observed. Additionally, the increase in Oxtr protein expression in PVN and HIPP was found to balance the decrease in circulating Oxt levels after cold stress.
JOURNAL OF ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Tiffany R. Lago, Karina S. Blair, Gabriella Alvarez, Amanda Thongdarong, James R. Blair, Monique Ernst, Christian Grillon
Summary: Patients with anxiety disorders experience impaired concentration due to stronger emotional interference. This study investigates the impact of experimentally induced state anxiety on attention interference by emotional stimuli.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Neurosciences
Andre Zugman, Anita Harrewijn, Elise M. Cardinale, Hannah Zwiebel, Gabrielle F. Freitag, Katy E. Werwath, Janna M. Bas-Hoogendam, Nynke A. Groenewold, Moji Aghajani, Kevin Hilbert, Narcis Cardoner, Daniel Porta-Casteras, Savannah Gosnell, Ramiro Salas, Karina S. Blair, James R. Blair, Mira Z. Hammoud, Mohammed Milad, Katie Burkhouse, K. Luan Phan, Heidi K. Schroeder, Jeffrey R. Strawn, Katja Beesdo-Baum, Sophia I. Thomopoulos, Hans J. Grabe, Sandra van der Auwera, Katharina Wittfeld, Jared A. Nielsen, Randy Buckner, Jordan W. Smoller, Benson Mwangi, Jair C. Soares, Mon-Ju Wu, Giovana B. Zunta-Soares, Andrea P. Jackowski, Pedro M. Pan, Giovanni A. Salum, Michal Assaf, Gretchen J. Diefenbach, Paolo Brambilla, Eleonora Maggioni, David Hofmann, Thomas Straube, Carmen Andreescu, Rachel Berta, Erica Tamburo, Rebecca Price, Gisele G. Manfro, Hugo D. Critchley, Elena Makovac, Matteo Mancini, Frances Meeten, Cristina Ottaviani, Federica Agosta, Elisa Canu, Camilla Cividini, Massimo Filippi, Milutin Kostic, Ana Munjiza, Courtney A. Filippi, Ellen Leibenluft, Bianca A. V. Alberton, Nicholas L. Balderston, Monique Ernst, Christian Grillon, Lilianne R. Mujica-Parodi, Helena van Nieuwenhuizen, Gregory A. Fonzo, Martin P. Paulus, Murray B. Stein, Raquel E. Gur, Ruben C. Gur, Antonia N. Kaczkurkin, Bart Larsen, Theodore D. Satterthwaite, Jennifer Harper, Michael Myers, Michael T. Perino, Qiongru Yu, Chad M. Sylvester, Dick J. Veltman, Ulrike Lueken, Nic J. A. van der Wee, Dan J. Stein, Neda Jahanshad, Paul M. Thompson, Daniel S. Pine, Anderson M. Winkler
Summary: The ENIGMA-Anxiety/GAD group is conducting a mega-analysis of brain structural scans for generalized anxiety disorder. This report summarizes the challenges faced and the approach taken to overcome them, aiming to guide other research groups working with large brain imaging data sets.
HUMAN BRAIN MAPPING
(2022)
Review
Neurosciences
Janna Marie Bas-Hoogendam, Nynke A. Groenewold, Moji Aghajani, Gabrielle F. Freitag, Anita Harrewijn, Kevin Hilbert, Neda Jahanshad, Sophia I. Thomopoulos, Paul M. Thompson, Dick J. Veltman, Anderson M. Winkler, Ulrike Lueken, Daniel S. Pine, Nic J. A. van der Wee, Dan J. Stein
Summary: Anxiety disorders are prevalent and disabling, but can be effectively studied using translational neuroscience methodologies. The ENIGMA-Anxiety Working Group aims to address the limitations of small sample sizes and heterogenous imaging methodology in anxiety disorders research, and generate more reliable and reproducible findings. The group has created a harmonized and coordinated effort to study different subtypes of anxiety disorders using neuroimaging data.
HUMAN BRAIN MAPPING
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Elizabeth K. Wood, Ryno Kruger, Jaclyn P. Day, Stephen M. Day, Jacob N. Hunter, Leslie Neville, Stephen G. Lindell, Christina S. Barr, Melanie L. Schwandt, David Goldman, Stephen J. Suomi, James C. Harris, J. Dee Higley
Summary: Research on rhesus macaques suggests that early parental neglect and variation in the serotonin transporter genotype could play a role in the etiology of NSSI. NSSI subjects with different 5-HTT genotypes exhibited distinct behaviors, highlighting the complexity of NSSI typologies.
NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Ru Zhang, Joseph Aloi, Sahil Bajaj, Johannah Bashford-Largo, Jennie Lukoff, Amanda Schwartz, Jamie Elowsky, Matthew Dobbertin, Karina S. Blair, R. James R. Blair
Summary: This study found that there is dysfunction in reward-punishment responsiveness in individuals with conduct disorder, and the severity of this dysfunction is associated with callous-unemotional traits but not irritability.
PSYCHOLOGICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Danielle S. Kroll, Katherine L. McPherson, Peter Manza, Melanie L. Schwandt, Pei-Hong Shen, David Goldman, Nancy Diazgranados, Gene-Jack Wang, Corinde E. Wiers, Nora D. Volkow
Summary: This study found that individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD) had higher serum transferrin saturation compared to healthy controls. The genetic variation in HFE rs1799945 was associated with elevated transferrin saturation in both AUD and healthy controls. Serum transferrin saturation can predict alcohol withdrawal severity, suggesting its potential use as a predictor for treatment.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Jordan E. Pierce, R. James R. Blair, Kayla R. Clark, Maital Neta
Summary: This study explores the temporal dynamics of brain regions involved in emotion regulation during cognitive reappraisal. The findings suggest that the downregulation of amygdala response to negative images does not occur immediately, but rather in the late stage of the trial. Different prefrontal regions also show different activation patterns, with some showing reappraisal-related activation early on and others showing increased activation later.
COGNITIVE AFFECTIVE & BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
John B. Whitfield, Tae-Hwi Schwantes-An, Rebecca Darlay, Guruprasad P. Aithal, Stephen R. Atkinson, Ramon Bataller, Greg Botwin, Naga P. Chalasani, Heather J. Cordell, Ann K. Daly, Christopher P. Day, Florian Eyer, Tatiana Foroud, Dermot Gleeson, David Goldman, Paul S. Haber, Jean-Marc Jacquet, Tiebing Liang, Suthat Liangpunsakul, Steven Masson, Philippe Mathurin, Romain Moirand, Andrew McQuillin, Christophe Moreno, Marsha Y. Morgan, Sebastian Mueller, Beat Muellhaupt, Laura E. Nagy, Pierre Nahon, Bertrand Nalpas, Sylvie Naveau, Pascal Perney, Munir Pirmohamed, Helmut K. Seitz, Michael Soyka, Felix Stickel, Andrew Thompson, Mark R. Thursz, Eric Trepo, Timothy R. Morgan, Devanshi Seth
Summary: This study developed a genetic risk score that can identify individuals at high risk of developing cirrhosis. It was found that the risk of cirrhosis is increased over 10-fold in patients with diabetes and a high genetic risk score. This risk assessment could lead to early and personalized management of the disease in high-risk patients.
JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Haitao Zhang, Bridget F. Grant, Colin A. Hodgkinson, W. June Ruan, Bradley T. Kerridge, Boji Huang, Tulshi D. Saha, Amy Z. Fan, Veronica Wilson, Jeesun Jung, Abbas Parsian, David Goldman, S. Patricia Chou
Summary: The study indicates that substance use disorders (SUDs) are partially heritable and are cross-transmitted genetically. Using exome-focused genotyping, researchers identified susceptibility genes for SUDs that overlap significantly with genes previously implicated by GWAS studies. Polygenic scores revealed shared and unshared genetic contributions to the pathogenesis of SUDs, as well as differences in the inheritance patterns among different SUDs.
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
J. J. Barb, K. A. Maki, N. Kazmi, B. K. Meeks, M. Krumlauf, R. T. Tuason, A. T. Brooks, N. J. Ames, D. Goldman, G. R. Wallen
Summary: This study investigated the effects of alcohol cessation on the oral microbiome during inpatient treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD). The results showed that alcohol preference was associated with changes in oral microbiome diversity, and alcohol cessation and attention to oral care improved dysbiosis and oral health.
JOURNAL OF ORAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Psychiatry
Caline S. Karam, Brenna L. Williams, Irina Morozova, Qiaoping Yuan, Rony Panarsky, Yuchao Zhang, Colin A. Hodgkinson, David Goldman, Sergey Kalachikov, Jonathan A. Javitch
Summary: Drug abuse, particularly of stimulants, is a significant public health issue with various complications. This study utilized the fruit fly model to investigate the transcriptional changes induced by amphetamines (AMPHs), identifying genes involved in mRNA translation control that were upregulated in response to AMPH. The findings contribute to our understanding of the molecular basis of drug addiction.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Jacob N. N. Hunter, Elizabeth K. K. Wood, Brandon L. L. Roberg, Leslie Neville, Melanie L. L. Schwandt, Lynn A. A. Fairbanks, Christina Barr, Stephen G. G. Lindell, David Goldman, Stephen J. J. Suomi, J. Dee Higley
Summary: This study examines the differences in rates of aggression exhibited by male and female rhesus monkeys in the presence of an unfamiliar stranger. The results suggest that males display higher rates of physical aggression towards the stranger, particularly when both the resident and stranger possess the s-allele of the 5-HTT genotype. Interestingly, resident females also exhibit higher rates of physical aggression, but towards familiar same-sex members of their social group.
HORMONES AND BEHAVIOR
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Robert James Richard Blair, Avantika Mathur, Nathaniel Haines, Sahil Bajaj
Summary: The identification of clinically relevant neuroimaging biomarkers in psychiatry is essential, but currently lacking. This may be due to the limitations in test re-test reliability (TRR) caused by task design choices commonly used in psychiatric patients. In this study, machine learning techniques combined with increasing the number of trials and limiting the reliance on contrast-based analyses were suggested to improve TRR and enable the development of cognitive neuroscience-based biomarkers for psychiatry in the near future.
CURRENT OPINION IN BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
R. James Blair
Summary: The goal of this article is to propose a cognitive neuroscience model that explains aggression motivation. It focuses on both instrumental and reactive aggression and identifies the neuro-cognitive functions that mediate, inhibit or moderate these motivations. The article also considers the disruptions of these functions that increase the risk for pathological aggression and explores the impact of testosterone, dopamine and serotonin on these neuro-cognitive functions.
MOTIVATION SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Developmental
Avantika Mathur, Johannah Bashford-Largo, Jaimie Elowsky, Ru Zhang, Matthew Dobbertin, Patrick M. Tyler, Sahil Bajaj, Karina S. Blair, James R. Blair
Summary: The current study aimed to investigate the association between atypical neural responsiveness during retaliation and observed aggression in youth in residential care. The findings indicated that aggressive adolescents displayed reduced neural activity in regions related to expected value representation and response control during a retaliation task. These individuals also showed a higher tendency for aggression prior to residential care and exhibited increased levels of retaliation.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY
(2023)