Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Bagmi Pattanaik, Maria Hammarlund, Filip Mjornstedt, Marcus A. Ulleryd, Wen Zhong, Mathias Uhlen, Anders Gummesson, Goran Bergstrom, Maria E. Johansson
Summary: The vagus nerve can regulate inflammation through the alpha 7nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (alpha 7nAChR). The genetic variants of CHRNA7 and CHRFAM7A can alter cytokine responses and are involved in immune responses. The CHRFAM7A gene may have a more pronounced role in regulating inflammatory processes in humans.
Article
Cell Biology
Irida Papapostolou, Daniela Ross-Kaschitza, Florian Bochen, Christine Peinelt, Maria Constanza Maldifassi
Summary: Nicotine in tobacco induces tumor-promoting effects and chemotherapy resistance through nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). This study investigates the role of a5 subunit in nicotine-induced cancer cell proliferation and migration in breast, colon, and prostate cancer cells. The results show that nicotine-induced proliferation and migration are mediated by a5.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Ahmet Muderrisoglu, Elif Babaoglu, Elif Tugce Korkmaz, Said Kalkisim, Erdem Karabulut, Salih Emri, Melih O. Babaoglu
Summary: In this study, smoking cessation treatment with varenicline was significantly more effective than treatments with nicotine replacement therapy or bupropion in Turkish subjects. Regardless of carrying wild-type or variant alleles, subjects with human nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits alpha 3, alpha 4, and alpha 5 showed similar clinical outcomes and smoker/non-smoker status in response to pharmacological treatments.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Igor A. Ivanov, Andrei E. Siniavin, Victor A. Palikov, Dmitry A. Senko, Irina V. Shelukhina, Lyubov A. Epifanova, Lucy O. Ojomoko, Svetlana Y. Belukhina, Nikita A. Prokopev, Mariia A. Landau, Yulia A. Palikova, Vitaly A. Kazakov, Natalia A. Borozdina, Arina V. Bervinova, Igor A. Dyachenko, Igor E. Kasheverov, Victor I. Tsetlin, Denis S. Kudryavtsev
Summary: We designed and synthesized 6-substituted hypaphorine analogs with increased potency, which showed anti-inflammatory activity by activating the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor.
Review
Cell Biology
Angela Maria Giada Giovenale, Giorgia Ruotolo, Amata Amy Soriano, Elisa Maria Turco, Giovannina Rotundo, Alessia Casamassa, Angela D'Anzi, Angelo Luigi Vescovi, Jessica Rosati
Summary: The CHRNA7 gene is expressed in both the central and peripheral nervous systems and is involved in brain development and adult neurogenesis through the mediation of acetylcholine stimulus. Copy number variations of the CHRNA7 gene have been linked to cognitive impairments in multiple disorders. Animal models have been used to study the gene due to the limitations of studying the living human brain directly. However, significant differences exist between humans and mice in studying CNVs, particularly in the CHRNA7 gene located on chromosome 15q13.3. Induced pluripotent stem cells from patients with CNV in the CHRNA7 gene provide a good in vitro model for studying the association of the alpha 7 receptor with human diseases. This review outlines the current state of hiPSCs technology in studying neurological diseases caused by CNVs in the CHRNA7 gene and discusses some weaknesses in the published articles.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Alessandro Giraudo, Marco Pallavicini, Cristiano Bolchi
Summary: The alpha 9- and alpha 7-containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors play key roles in physiological and pathological processes. Selective ligands for these receptors are important research tools and potential therapeutic agents. While there is a wealth of information on alpha 7-nAChR ligands, the understanding of selective alpha 9-nAChR ligands is limited. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the latter, along with recent updates on alpha 7-nAChR ligands.
PHARMACOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biophysics
John R. Strikwerda, Kathiresan Natarajan, Steven M. Sine
Summary: The mechanism behind the fluctuations in ionic current through single AChR channels has been unknown. Recent research shows that mutating an intramembrane salt bridge in muscle AChR significantly increases the fluctuations in open channel current. In addition, extracellular divalent cations reduce high-frequency fluctuations and increase low-frequency fluctuations.
BIOPHYSICAL JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Michael K. Schuhmann, Lena Papp, Guido Stoll, Robert Blum, Jens Volkmann, Felix Fluri
Summary: The research suggests that high-frequency stimulation of the mesencephalic locomotor region (MLR) may trigger anti-inflammatory processes within the perilesional area by modulating the cholinergic system.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Marcelo J. Moglie, Irina Marcovich, Jeremias Corradi, Agustin E. Carpaneto Freixas, Sofia Gallino, Paola V. Plazas, Cecilia Bouzat, Marcela Lipovsek, Ana Belen Elgoyhen
Summary: The study found that the α10 subunit in mammalian α9α10 nAChR weakened the efficacy of choline, resulting in choline no longer acting as a full agonist at the efferent synapse, while not affecting the triggering of ACh responses.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Han-Shen Tae, David J. Adams
Summary: Pentameric nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are found in muscle or neuronal cells, and have also been observed in non-neuronal cells. They play a crucial role in various physiological and pathological processes, including synaptic transmission, modulation of transmitter release, neuropathic pain, inflammation, and cancer. There are 17 different subunits of nAChRs that produce subtypes with diverse pharmacological properties. Knock-out models have been used to study the expression and function of some nAChR subtypes extensively. Alpha-conotoxins, small peptides derived from cone snail venom, selectively target many nAChR subtypes expressed in heterologous systems, and have potential pharmaceutical value.
PHARMACOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Namrita Halder, Girdhari Lal
Summary: Neurological and immunological signals interact to maintain homeostasis in the body. The cholinergic system plays a crucial role in neuroimmune communication, regulating immune response. Various molecules of the neuronal and non-neuronal cholinergic system interact to modulate inflammation and immunity.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Danlin Liu, Joao V. de Souza, Ayaz Ahmad, Agnieszka K. Bronowska
Summary: This study investigated the impact of dup alpha 7 on alpha 7 receptors through computational models and molecular dynamics simulations, revealing that receptors with four or more dup alpha 7 subunits are unstable while models with dup alpha 7/alpha 7 interfaces are more stable. The optimal stoichiometry is no more than three dup alpha 7 monomers in favor of dup alpha 7/alpha 7 interface.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biology
Richard J. Harris, Bryan G. Fry
Summary: The evolution of venom resistance through coevolutionary chemical arms races has been documented multiple times in the animal kingdom. Previous studies focused on N-glycosylation motifs and amino acid mutations in resistance to snake venom neurotoxins, but a new study has discovered a novel form of resistance through charge reversal mutations.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Victoria R. Sanders, Aaron Sweeney, Maya Topf, Neil S. Millar
Summary: Quinolone antibiotics can disrupt bacterial DNA synthesis and also act as inhibitors of pentameric ligand-gated ion channels, including the alpha 4 beta 2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. These antibiotics selectively inhibit different stoichiometries of the alpha 4 beta 2 receptor, which can result in different pharmacological properties.
ACS CHEMICAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Christoph M. Ertle, Frank R. Rommel, Susanne Tumala, Yasuhiro Moriwaki, Jochen Klein, Johannes Kruse, Uwe Gieler, Eva M. J. Peters
Summary: The study revealed upregulation of Chrna7 and SLURP-1 mRNA in stressed skin of mice, along with a pro-inflammatory effect of SLURP-1 in target tissues, especially in Chrna7-Knockout mice and HIF1 alpha-blocked cMC.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Robert Freedman, Sharon K. Hunter, Kathleen Noonan, Anna Wyrwa, Uwe Christians, Amanda J. Law, M. Camille Hoffman
Summary: The study reveals sex-specific associations of C-reactive protein and cortisol levels with prenatal depression in women, showing greater impact on neural development in male infants with maternal depression and cortisol levels. Male fetuses seem to metabolize cortisol more effectively to cortisone, which may have protective benefits in the face of adversity.
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY-COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING
(2021)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Sharon K. Hunter, M. Camille Hoffman, Angelo D'Alessandro, Anna Wyrwa, Kathleen Noonan, Steven H. Zeisel, Amanda J. Law, Robert Freedman
Summary: The study aimed to investigate the impact of high maternal plasma choline concentrations on early childhood behaviors, with results showing that higher choline levels were associated with children's attention problems and social issues.
PSYCHOLOGICAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Gabriella A. M. Blokland, Jakob Grove, Chia-Yen Chen, Chris Cotsapas, Stuart Tobet, Robert Handa, David St Clair, Todd Lencz, Bryan J. Mowry, Sathish Periyasamy, Murray J. Cairns, Paul A. Tooney, Jing Qin Wu, Brian Kelly, George Kirov, Patrick F. Sullivan, Aiden Corvin, Brien P. Riley, Tonu Esko, Lili Milani, Erik G. Jonsson, Aarno Palotie, Hannelore Ehrenreich, Martin Begemann, Agnes Steixner-Kumar, Pak C. Sham, Nakao Iwata, Daniel R. Weinberger, Pablo Gejman, Alan R. Sanders, Joseph D. Buxbaum, Dan Rujescu, Ina Giegling, Bettina Konte, Annette M. Hartmann, Elvira Bramon, Robin M. Murray, Michele T. Pato, Jimmy Lee, Ingrid Melle, Espen Molden, Roel A. Ophoff, Andrew McQuillin, Nicholas J. Bass, Rolf Adolfsson, Anil K. Malhotra, Nicholas G. Martin, Janice M. Fullerton, Philip B. Mitchell, Peter R. Schofield, Andreas J. Forstner, Franziska Degenhardt, Sabrina Schaupp, Ashley L. Comes, Manolis Kogevinas, Jose Guzman-Parra, Andreas Reif, Fabian Streit, Lea Sirignano, Sven Cichon, Maria Grigoroiu-Serbanescu, Joanna Hauser, Jolanta Lissowska, Fermin Mayoral, Bertram Muller-Myhsok, Thomas G. Schulze, Markus M. Nothen, Marcella Rietschel, John Kelsoe, Marion Leboyer, Stephane Jamain, Bruno Etain, Frank Bellivier, John B. Vincent, Martin Alda, Claire O'Donovan, Pablo Cervantes, Joanna M. Biernacka, Mark Frye, Susan L. McElroy, Laura J. Scott, Eli A. Stahl, Mikael Landen, Marian L. Hamshere, Olav B. Smeland, Srdjan Djurovic, Arne E. Vaaler, Ole A. Andreassen, Bernhard T. Baune, Tracy Air, Martin Preisig, Rudolf Uher, Douglas F. Levinson, Myrna M. Weissman, James B. Potash, Jianxin Shi, James A. Knowles, Roy H. Perlis, Susanne Lucae, Dorret Boomsma, Brenda W. J. H. Penninx, Jouke-Jan Hottenga, Eco J. C. de Geus, Gonneke Willemsen, Yuri Milaneschi, Henning Tiemeier, Hans J. Grabe, Alexander Teumer, Sandra Van der Auwera, Uwe Volker, Steven P. Hamilton, Patrik K. E. Magnusson, Alexander Viktorin, Divya Mehta, Niamh Mullins, Mark J. Adams, Gerome Breen, Andrew M. McIntosh, Cathryn M. Lewis, David M. Hougaard, Merete Nordentoft, Ole Mors, Preben B. Mortensen, Thomas Werge, Thomas D. Als, Anders D. Borglum, Tracey L. Petryshen, Jordan W. Smoller, Jill M. Goldstein
Summary: The study found significant sex-dependent genetic risk in schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, and bipolar disorder, with implications for genes related to neuronal development, immune functions, and vascular functions across and within these disorders. This suggests substantial genetic overlap between sexes in mood and psychotic disorders, with sex-specific effects enriched for genes involved in various physiological functions.
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Guiyan Ni, Jian Zeng, Joana A. Revez, Ying Wang, Zhili Zheng, Tian Ge, Restuadi Restuadi, Jacqueline Kiewa, Dale R. Nyholt, Jonathan R. Coleman, Jordan W. Smoller, Jian Yang, Peter M. Visscher, Naomi R. Wray
Summary: The study evaluated the genetic risk for schizophrenia and major depressive disorder, revealing that PGS methods with more formal genetic architecture modeling have better prediction statistics. MegaPRS, LDpred2, and SBayesR are recommended for applications to these disorders based on their superior performance compared to other methods.
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Letter
Psychiatry
Sharon K. Hunter, M. Camille Hoffman, Lizbeth McCarthy, Angelo D'Alessandro, Anna Wyrwa, Kathleen Noonan, Uwe Christians, Etheldreda Nakimuli-Mpungu, Steven H. Zeisel, Amanda J. Law, Robert Freedman
Summary: Using prenatal vitamins and choline supplements may reduce the risk factor of preterm birth disproportionately affecting Black families. The dissemination of this research aligns with the principle of Justice in the Belmont Report, ensuring that participants from various racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups benefit from research addressing their specific issues.
SCHIZOPHRENIA BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Psychiatry
Robert Freedman, Sharon K. Hunter, Amanda J. Law, Alena M. Clark, Aquila Roberts, M. Camille Hoffman
Summary: Choline, folic acid, and Vitamin D are essential for fetal brain development. Micronutrient deficiencies are associated with changes in brain development and increased incidence of psychiatric disorders. Micronutrient supplements can prevent deficiency and positively affect brain development, potentially decreasing the risk of future psychotic disorders.
SCHIZOPHRENIA RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ke-Huan K. Chow, Mark W. Budde, Alejandro A. Granados, Maria Cabrera, Shinae Yoon, Soomin Cho, Ting-Hao Huang, Noushin Koulena, Kirsten L. Frieda, Long Cai, Carlos Lois, Michael B. Elowitz
Summary: By utilizing the intMEMOIR system, researchers have developed a method to record cell lineage information that can be read out in situ. This system allows for lineage reconstruction in both mouse and fly cells, as well as simultaneous analysis of clonal history, spatial position, and gene expression. These results establish a foundation for microscopy-readable lineage recording and analysis in diverse systems.
Editorial Material
Psychiatry
Robert Freedman, Sharon K. Hunter, Amanda J. Law, M. Camille Hoffman
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Wuming Gong, Alejandro A. Granados, Jingyuan Hu, Matthew G. Jones, Ofir Raz, Irepan Salvador-Martinez, Hanrui Zhang, Ke-Huan K. Chow, Il-Youp Kwak, Renata Retkute, Alisa Prusokiene, Augustinas Prusokas, Alex Khodaverdian, Richard Zhang, Suhas Rao, Robert Wang, Phil Rennert, Vangala G. Saipradeep, Naveen Sivadasan, Aditya Rao, Thomas Joseph, Rajgopal Srinivasan, Jiajie Peng, Lu Han, Xuequn Shang, Daniel J. Garry, Thomas Yu, Verena Chung, Michael Mason, Zhandong Liu, Yuanfang Guan, Nir Yosef, Jay Shendure, Maximilian J. Telford, Ehud Shapiro, Michael B. Elowitz, Pablo Meyer
Summary: The recent development of CRISPR and other molecular tools has made it possible to reconstruct cell lineages based on induced DNA mutations, but the performance and robustness of lineage reconstruction algorithms across different dataset types and cell numbers have not been rigorously examined. Using smaller sub-trees as training sets has proven to be an effective approach for tuning algorithms to reconstruct larger trees.
Article
Engineering, Civil
Luobing Dong, Honghao Gao, Weili Wu, Qiwen Gong, Nemera Chala Dechasa, Yanfei Liu
Summary: In this paper, a dependence-aware edge intelligent function offloading scheme for 6G-based Internet of Vehicle (IoV) is proposed. The traditional intelligent transportation applications are split into different chains of intelligent functions, which can be offloaded to edge servers for processing. Two algorithms are designed to achieve the optimal assignment of intelligent functions, and experiments show that the algorithms are fast.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Chia-Wei Liou, Tzu-Hsuan Yao, Wei-Li Wu
Summary: This paper presents a video-based method to study the functional role of SCFAs in the brain using a guide cannula in freely moving mice. The amount and type of SCFAs in the brain can be adjusted by controlling the infusion volume and rate. This method provides a way to appreciate the role of gut-derived metabolites in the brain.
JOVE-JOURNAL OF VISUALIZED EXPERIMENTS
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Fangyuan Ding, Christina J. Su, KeHuan Kuo Edmonds, Guohao Liang, Michael B. Elowitz
Summary: A study has found that negative autoregulatory splicing of the splicing factor SRSF1 plays a critical role in gene regulation. It establishes an upper limit for SRSF1 protein concentration, reduces cell-to-cell variability in SRSF1 levels, and buffers transcriptional variation. Furthermore, this negative autoregulatory splicing adapts SRSF1 splicing activity to variations in demand from other pre-mRNA substrates.
Article
Computer Science, Cybernetics
Qiufen Ni, Jianxiong Guo, Weili Wu, Huan Wang
Summary: This article focuses on the community partition problem in social networks and formulates it as a combinatorial optimization problem. Continuous greedy algorithms and discrete implementations are proposed to solve the upper and lower bound problems, achieving a good approximation ratio. The effectiveness and advantages of the proposed method are demonstrated through experiments on real datasets.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON COMPUTATIONAL SOCIAL SYSTEMS
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Chia-Wei Liou, Sin-Jhong Cheng, Tzu-Ting Lai, Yu-Hsuan Tsai, Che-Wei Chien, Yu-Lun Kuo, Shih-Hsuan Chou, Cheng-Chih Hsu, Wei-Li Wu
Summary: Social novelty, a cognitive process crucial for strategic interaction among animals based on prior experiences, is modulated by the commensal microbiome in the gut through various routes, including microbe-derived metabolite signaling. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), metabolites produced by bacterial fermentation in the gastrointestinal tract, have been found to affect host behavior. This study demonstrates that the direct delivery of SCFAs into the brain disrupts social novelty through specific neuronal populations, specifically the CaMKII-labeled neurons in the BNST.
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2023)
Review
Cell Biology
Tzu-Ting Lai, Chia-Wei Liou, Yu-Hsuan Tsai, Yuan-Yuan Lin, Wei-Li Wu
Summary: Psychological stress is a global issue that affects a significant portion of the global population and increases the risk of psychiatric disorders. Recent evidence suggests that the gut microbiota plays a role in regulating stress and associated behavior. The microbiota can modulate stress response through the regulation of intestinal glucocorticoids and the autonomic nervous system. This review provides insight into the pathways by which gut microbes impact stress signaling, brain circuits, and ultimately the host's behavior.
JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Letter
Immunology
Wan-Ju Cheng, Hong-Mo Shih, Kuan-Pin Su, Po-Ren Hsueh
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2024)
Article
Immunology
Felipe Kenji Sudo, Talita P. Pinto, Fernanda G. Q. Barros-Aragao, Ivanei Bramati, Theo F. Marins, Marina Monteiro, Fernanda Meireles, Rejane Soares, Pilar Erthal, Victor Calil, Naima Assuncao, Natalia Oliveira, Joana Bondarovsky, Camila Lima, Beatriz Chagas, Alana Batista, Julia Lins, Thais L. Pinheiro, Felippe Mendonca, Andrea Silveira de Souza, Fernanda C. Rodrigues, Gabriel R. de Freitas, Pedro Kurtz, Paulo Mattos, Erika C. Rodrigues, Fernanda G. De Felice, Fernanda Tovar-Moll
Summary: Post-COVID-19 Condition (PCC) is a multisystemic syndrome that persists for months after SARS-CoV-2 infection, affecting cognitive function and neuropsychiatric features. A study on COVID-19 survivors in Brazil found that these patients experienced significant difficulties in overall cognition, memory, working memory, and inhibitory control, as well as fatigue, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. In addition, elevated levels of inflammatory markers in the blood were associated with brain microstructural damage and cognitive impairments.
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2024)
Letter
Immunology
Tieh-Cheng Fu, Juei-Chao Chen, Ching-Mao Chang
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2024)
Article
Immunology
Aastha Dheer, Dale B. Bosco, Jiaying Zheng, Lingxiao Wang, Shunyi Zhao, Koichiro Haruwaka, Min-Hee Yi, Abhijeet Barath, Dai-Shi Tian, Long-Jun Wu
Summary: Microglial activation plays a crucial role in the pathology of epilepsy, with both acute and prolonged activation affecting seizure severity and neuronal loss.
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2024)
Article
Immunology
Julie B. Rosenberg, Jens Richardt Mollegaard Jepsen, Parisa Mohammadzadeh, Astrid Sevelsted, Rebecca Vinding, Mikkel E. Sorensen, David Horner, Kristina Aagaard, Birgitte Fagerlund, Susanne Brix, Nilofar Folsgaard, Ann -Marie M. Schoos, Jakob Stokholm, Bo Chawes, Christos Pantelis, Soren Dalsgaard, Birte Y. Glenthoj, Niels Bilenberg, Klaus Bonnelykke, Bjorn H. Ebdrup
Summary: Clinical data demonstrates a strong association between prenatal maternal inflammation assessed by hs-CRP and a diagnosis of ADHD by age 10. Maternal inflammation is also associated with ADHD symptom load in the entire cohort.
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2024)
Article
Immunology
Suzanne M. Green-Fulgham, Michael J. Lacagnina, Kendal F. Willcox, Jiahe Li, Michael E. Harland, Adriano Polican Ciena, Igor R. Correia Rocha, Jayson B. Ball, Renee A. Dreher, Younus A. Zuberi, Joseph M. Dragavon, Marucia Chacur, Steven F. Maier, Linda R. Watkins, Peter M. Grace
Summary: Regular aerobic activity, specifically voluntary wheel running, can reduce the risk of chronic pain by inhibiting MAC and preserving myelin integrity at the site of peripheral nerve injury.
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2024)
Article
Immunology
India Boyton, Stella M. Valenzuela, Lyndsey E. Collins-Praino, Andrew Care
Summary: Neuronanomedicine is a multidisciplinary field that aims to develop innovative nanotechnologies for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. Nanoparticles are an important component of neuronanomedicine, as they can improve drug properties and enhance safety and delivery across the blood-brain barrier. However, a major challenge for neuronanomedicine translation is the poor understanding of bio-nano interactions, partly due to inconsistent reporting in published works. This review provides specific recommendations to guide researchers in harnessing the unique properties of nanoparticles for breakthrough treatments of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2024)
Article
Immunology
Celine De Looze, Cathal McCrory, Aisling O'Halloran, Silvia Polidoro, Rose Anne Kenny, Joanne Feeney
Summary: Our study found that subjective measures of stress and biological metrics may be independently associated with cognitive function over time in older adults, hinting at potential different underlying mechanisms.
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2024)
Article
Immunology
Beatrice Bravi, Elisa Maria Teresa Melloni, Marco Paolini, Mariagrazia Palladini, Federico Calesella, Laura Servidio, Elena Agnoletto, Sara Poletti, Cristina Lorenzi, Cristina Colombo, Francesco Benedetti
Summary: Depressed patients show changes in immune-inflammatory markers in their blood and cerebrospinal fluid. The Choroid Plexus, located at the base of the brain ventricles, plays a key role in regulating the exchange of substances between the brain and immune cells. Patients with bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder have larger Choroid Plexus volumes compared to healthy controls. Age and levels of circulating cytokines are associated with Choroid Plexus volumes in the clinical groups.
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2024)
Article
Immunology
Mingxuan Zheng, Huaiyu Ye, Xiaoying Yang, Lijun Shen, Xuemei Dang, Xiaoli Liu, Yuying Gong, Qingyuan Wu, Li Wang, Xing Ge, Xiaoli Fang, Benchi Hou, Peng Zhang, Renxian Tang, Kuiyang Zheng, Xu-Feng Huang, Yinghua Yu
Summary: Obesity is linked to cognitive dysfunction and neurodegenerative disease. The connection between the gut microbiota and the brain is altered in obesity. The probiotic Clostridium butyricum can improve cognitive impairment caused by obesity and prevent gut microbiota dysbiosis and inflammation.
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2024)
Article
Immunology
Edward Drydale, Phalguni Rath, Katie Holden, Gregory Holt, Laurissa Havins, Thomas Johnson, James Bancroft, Lahiru Handunnetthi
Summary: This study created a novel three-dimensional neurosphere assay using induced pluripotent stem cell differentiation and live cell imaging techniques to investigate the effect of a simulated viral infection on cortical development. The findings demonstrated that the infection led to reduced radial glial growth and neural migration.
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2024)
Article
Immunology
Yuancheng Weng, Ningting Chen, Rui Zhang, Jian He, Xukai Ding, Guo Cheng, Qianqian Bi, Ying-mei Lu, Xiao Z. Shen, Shu Wan, Peng Shi
Summary: This study reveals that microglia is the primary cellular source of PDGFB in adults, and microglial PDGFB is crucial for maintaining BBB integrity in adult mice.
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2024)
Article
Immunology
Evan A. Bordt, Haley A. Moya, Young Chan Jo, Caitlin T. Ravichandran, Izabella M. Bankowski, Alexis M. Ceasrine, Christopher J. Mcdougle, William A. Carlezon Jr, Staci D. Bilbo
Summary: There is a strong male bias in many neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder, but the mechanisms behind this bias are unknown. Infection during the perinatal period increases the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders. Using a mouse model, researchers found that early-life immune activation only induced deficits in social behaviors in male mice. These behavioral changes were associated with alterations in microglial immune signaling, mitochondrial morphology, gene expression, and function specifically in microglia, the brain's innate immune cells. Furthermore, the vulnerability to early-life immune activation and its effects on behavior and microglial mitochondria were programmed by the male-typical perinatal gonadal hormone surge. These findings highlight the role of microglia-specific mechanisms shaped by early developmental events in regulating male social behavior throughout lifespan.
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2024)
Article
Immunology
Maria Amalia Di Castro, Stefano Garofalo, Alessandro Mormino, Laura Carbonari, Erika Di Pietro, Eleonora De Felice, Myriam Catalano, Laura Maggi, Cristina Limatola
Summary: Cytokines, such as interleukin-15 (IL-15), play important roles in modulating the central nervous system (CNS). In this study, the authors found that exposure to IL-15 enhances GABA release and reduces glutamatergic currents in hippocampal slices. Chronic treatment with IL-15 has negative effects on memory formation. Serotonin is involved in mediating these effects, as a selective 5-HT3A receptor antagonist prevents the effects on inhibitory neurotransmission and improves performance in a memory test.
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2024)
Article
Immunology
Nikhitha Sreenivas, Michael Maes, Hansashree Padmanabha, Apoorva Dharmendra, Priyanka Chakkera, Saptamita Paul Choudhury, Fazal Abdul, Thrinath Mullapudi, Vykuntaraju K. Gowda, Michael Berk, John Vijay Sagar Kommu, Monojit Debnath
Summary: Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are a spectrum of conditions with both common and differing characteristics in terms of phenome, symptomatome, neuropathology, risk factors and underlying mechanisms. This study investigates the possibility of a shared immune etiology among three early-onset NDDs, namely Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Intellectual Disability Disorder (IDD).
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2024)
