Article
Biology
Alessandra Caruso, Alessandra Gaetano, Sergio Scaccianoce
Summary: CRH plays a role in regulating multiple biological systems, and is also associated with reproduction, neuropsychiatric, gastrointestinal, immune disorders, and tumor development. Further research on the physiological functions of CRH will help determine its role in human diseases and may serve as novel therapeutic targets.
Article
Neurosciences
Nikita Deo, Gregory Redpath
Summary: This article examines the important role of endocytosis in the cellular basis of depression and anxiety. It provides a detailed explanation of the endocytic regulation of 5-HT receptors and SERT, and explores how SSRIs and hallucinogenic compounds modulate serotonin signaling through endocytosis.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xue Liu, Jiaqian Feng, Zhijing Jiang, Guangbo Zhang, Xiuwen Xu, Jixiu Wang, Jingwen Yang, Tianming Wang
Summary: In the neuroendocrine system, corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) activates CRHRs and plays a vital role in the HPA/HPI axis. Two CRHR1 subtypes, LcCRHR1-1 and LcCRHR1-2, were identified in Larimichthys crocea genome and were found to be highly homologous to known teleost CRHRs. These receptors were found to be localized in the cell membrane and respond to LcCRH by increasing cAMP, Ca2+ and mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylation. LcCRHR1s were expressed in various tissues, with high expression in the brain and ovaries, and shown to be specifically localized in ovarian follicle cells. This study suggests that the CRH/CRHR1 system may be involved in the neuroendocrine regulation of reproduction in L. crocea.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Alexandros N. Vgontzas, Julio Fernandez-Mendoza, Kristina Puzino Lenker, Maria Basta, Edward O. Bixler, George P. Chrousos
Summary: Insomnia, especially when associated with objective sleep disturbance, was found to be related to activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Men with insomnia demonstrated shorter total sleep time and lower sleep efficiency on polysomnography, as well as lower levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol after exposure to stress, suggesting a disrupted hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function in this population.
JOURNAL OF SLEEP RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Emily S. Barrett, Matthew Corsetti, Drew Day, Sally W. Thurston, Christine T. Loftus, Catherine J. Karr, Kurunthachalam Kannan, Kaja Z. LeWinn, Alicia K. Smith, Roger Smith, Frances A. Tylavsky, Nicole R. Bush, Sheela Sathyanarayana
Summary: Phthalates may disrupt the endocrine pathways in pregnant women, impacting pregnancy outcomes and fetal development. This study found associations between phthalate mixtures and changes in plasma pCRH levels, with differing effects observed among women with gestational diabetes and gestational hypertension.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Hong Zhou, Aqin Chen, Weiqun Lu
Summary: The study showed that CRH is expressed in the zebrafish ovary and can partly inhibit steroidogenesis by activating the p38 MAPK signaling pathway, resulting in reduced estradiol synthesis.
MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Gersende Maugars, Xavier Mauvois, Patrick Martin, Salima Aroua, Karine Rousseau, Sylvie Dufour
Summary: This study reveals the patterns of duplication and loss of CRH genes in different vertebrates, as well as the functional diversification of different CRH paralogs.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Michael H. Riad, Kwanghoon Park, Ines Ibanez-Tallon, Nathaniel Heintz
Summary: The study reveals the role of neuromodulatory substances in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). It shows that a specific class of mPFC interneurons releases corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) to enhance excitability of pyramidal cells, leading to increased novelty exploration in male mice. The effect of CRH is influenced by sex and does not affect anxiety-related behaviors.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Erin Faught, Mathilakath M. Vijayan
Summary: The study demonstrates that the CRH/CRHR1 system mediates stress-induced hyperactivity, while the temporal activation of cortisol production and associated GR/MR signaling are crucial for prolonging stressor-induced hyperactivity.
NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Lei Guo, Yang-Jian Qi, Hong Tan, Dan Dai, Rawien Balesar, Arja Sluiter, Joop van Heerikhuize, Shao-Hua Hu, Dick F. Swaab, Ai -Min Bao
Summary: Increased expression of OXT in PVN and OXTR in DLPFC are characteristic for male BD patients. Stimulation of PVN-OXT neurons induced mood changes in mice, in a pattern different from BD.
Article
Immunology
Shaaban A. Mousa, Baled I. Khalefa, Mohammed Shaqura, Mohammed Al-Madol, Sascha Treskatsch, Michael Schaefer
Summary: This study found that CRF-R1 in opioid-peptide-containing brain areas plays an important role in the modulation of inflammatory pain and may be a useful therapeutic target for its control.
JOURNAL OF NEUROINFLAMMATION
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Robert J. McDonald, Nancy S. Hong, Jan S. Trow, Chelsea Kaupp, R. J. Balog, London Gokarn, Erin A. Falkenberg, Keiko J. McCreary, Nasrin Soltanpour, Carter Witbeck, Aimee McKenna, Gerlinde A. S. Metz
Summary: Prenatal experiences can have lasting effects on offspring physiology and behavior. Different forms of prenatal stress can impair learning and memory function in adults and increase the risk of anxiety and depression. This study focused on the effects of maternal stress induced by social isolation on cognitive functions in adult offspring, specifically spatial, stimulus-response, and emotional learning and memory.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Emily S. Barrett, Tomomi Workman, Marnie F. Hazlehurst, Sophie Kauderer, Christine Loftus, Kurunthachalam Kannan, Morgan Robinson, Alicia K. Smith, Roger Smith, Qi Zhao, Kaja Z. LeWinn, Sheela Sathyanarayana, Nicole R. Bush
Summary: In this study, modest evidence of association was found between OH-PAHs, particularly 2-OH-PHEN, and pCRH levels. The associations tended to be stronger in early pregnancy. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and investigate alternative mechanisms linking PAHs and timing of birth.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Hua Zhang, Jing-Jing Zhou, Jian-Ying Shao, Zhao-Fu Sheng, Jingxiong Wang, Peiru Zheng, Xunlei Kang, Zhenguo Liu, Zixi Jack Cheng, David D. Kline, De -Pei Li
Summary: Elevated levels of CRH and CRHR1 in the PVN are associated with increased sympathetic outflow in primary hypertension, potentially contributing to the hyperactivity of PVN presympathetic neurons.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Xin-Ya Qin, Qing-Hong Shan, Hui Fang, Yu Wang, Peng Chen, Zhi-Qi Xiong, Dick F. Swaab, Jiang-Ning Zhou
Summary: The study observed an increased density of PSD-93-CRH co-localized neurons in the hypothalamic PVN of major depression patients, showing that PSD-93 regulates excitatory synaptic activity in CRH neurons leading to depression-like behaviors. PSD-93 overexpression heightened HPA axis activity, while PSD-93 knockdown alleviated depression phenotypes.
ACTA NEUROPATHOLOGICA
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fatima Megala Nathan, Caroline Kibat, Tanisha Goel, James Stewart, Adam Claridge-Chang, Ajay S. Mathuru
Summary: Alcohol use disorders have significant global impact, and the development of a self-administration zebrafish assay provides a new approach to studying the neurobiology of addiction. The study demonstrates that zebrafish are attracted to low concentrations of alcohol, and acute exposure to an alcohol deterrent reduces self-administration. Mutations in the CCSER1 gene associated with alcohol dependence in humans alter the relative preference for alcohol in zebrafish. The biphasic response to alcohol in zebrafish validates the relevance of this model to vertebrate responses to alcohol.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Benjamin Wong Wei Xiang, Wilfried A. A. Saron, James C. Stewart, Arthur Hain, Varsha Walvekar, Dorothee Misse, Frederic Thomas, R. Manjunatha Kini, Benjamin Roche, Adam Claridge-Chang, Ashley L. St. John, Julien Pompon
Summary: A study found that DENV infection increases mosquito attraction to hosts and hinders their biting efficiency, resulting in infected mosquitoes needing more bites to reach similar blood repletion. By establishing transmission models and mathematical models, the study also revealed that the number of infected hosts per infected mosquito tripled when mosquito behavior was influenced by DENV infection.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Biology
Tayfun Tumkaya, Safwan Burhanudin, Asghar Khalilnezhad, James Stewart, Hyungwon Choi, Adam Claridge-Chang
Summary: Animals use olfactory receptors to navigate mates, food, and danger. Research on Drosophila reveals that only a small fraction of olfactory sensory neurons can individually drive avoidance or attraction behavior, suggesting that most neurons have neutral effects. Additionally, wind and hunger have minimal impact on these responses. Comparisons between single- and double-ORN responses also contradict simple pooling rules, indicating that complex interactions may be responsible for the observed behavioral effects.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tien T. Dang, Yen-Hua Huang, Stanislav Ott, Peta J. Harvey, Edward K. Gilding, Benjamin J. Tombling, Lai Y. Chan, Quentin Kaas, Adam Claridge-Chang, David J. Craik
Summary: This study evaluated the insecticidal activity of acyclotides from Rinorea bengalensis on Drosophila melanogaster and found that ribe 31 showed the most potent toxicity. Acyclotides were found to have lower toxicity towards human red blood cells compared to insect cells, indicating their selectivity and bio-insecticide potential. The cytotoxicity of ribe 31 is likely mediated via membrane disruption and it preferentially binds to membranes containing phospholipids with phosphatidyl-ethanolamine headgroups. Despite having an acyclic backbone, the three-dimensional NMR solution structure of ribe 31 is similar to that of cyclotides. Overall, with further optimization, ribe 31 could be used as an insecticide due to its potent in vivo activity against Drosophila melanogaster.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Safa Salim, Fatima Ahmad, Ayesha Banu, Farhan Mohammad
Summary: Parkinson's disease (PD) is caused by ⍺-synuclein aggregation-mediated dopaminergic neuronal loss, leading to motor and non-motor symptoms. Inflammation-mediated oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and cytokine-induced toxicity are believed to be involved in the neuronal damage and loss associated with PD. The gut and brain have been found to play important roles in the pathogenesis of PD. This review summarizes the impact of gut microbiome alterations on PD pathogenesis and proposes early interventions and dietary modifications as potential protective measures against PD development.
JOURNAL OF ADVANCED RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Rahat Alam, Abdus Samad, Foysal Ahammad, Suza Mohammad Nur, Ahad Amer Alsaiari, Raihan Rahman Imon, Md. Enamul Kabir Talukder, Zulkar Nain, Md. Mashiar Rahman, Farhan Mohammad, Tomasz M. Karpinski
Summary: By using computational vaccine design approaches, this study has formulated a multiepitope vaccine against Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF). The vaccine has proven to be antigenic, immunogenic, and non-allergenic with desired physicochemical properties. Vaccine-receptor complex simulations and immune simulations have shown that the vaccine candidates are stable and capable of triggering real-life-like immune responses in humans.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Ayesha Banu, Swetha B. M. Gowda, Safa Salim, Farhan Mohammad
Summary: To survive, animals maintain energy homeostasis by seeking out food. Serotonin, a neurotransmitter, plays a crucial role in regulating animal feeding behavior. However, the study on the effects of serotonin on feeding microstructure has been limited by technical challenges.
FRONTIERS IN BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Swetha B. M. Gowda, Ayesha Banu, Safa Salim, Kadir A. Peker, Farhan Mohammad
Summary: When trapped, animals exhibit stereotypical behaviors to increase their chances of survival, such as wriggling to unlock the trap or feigning death. Our study found that restrained vinegar flies exhibit alternating flailing and immobility to free themselves from the trap, regulated by serotonergic cells and 5-HT7 receptors in the ventral nerve cord.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Mohammad Habibur Rahman Molla, Mohammed Othman Aljahdali, Md Afsar Ahmed Sumon, Amer H. Asseri, Hisham N. Altayb, Md. Shafiqul Islam, Ahad Amer Alsaiari, F. A. Dain Md Opo, Nushrat Jahan, Foysal Ahammad, Farhan Mohammad
Summary: Pancreatic cancer is a deadly disease with low 5-year survival rate and a leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally. FAK1, a protein overexpressed in pancreatic cancer cells, plays a crucial role in tumor development. Ligand-based drug design approach identified potential compounds against FAK1, with three newly discovered compounds showing promise for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. Further wet laboratory investigations are needed to evaluate the activity of these drugs.
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Abolaji Samson Olagunju, Foysal Ahammad, Abiola Adeyanju Alagbe, Titilayomi Ayomide Otenaike, John Oluwafemi Teibo, Farhan Mohammad, Ahad Amer Alsaiari, Olabode Omotoso, Md Enamul Kabir Talukder
Summary: Mitochondrial dysfunction plays a crucial role in various neurodegenerative diseases. Changes in mitochondrial homeostasis are associated with the onset of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Early mitochondrial dysfunctions may contribute to the progression of neuropathological processes.
Article
Cell Biology
Kripa S. Keyan, Safa Salim, Swetha Gowda, Doua Abdelrahman, Syeda Sakina Amir, Zeyaul Islam, Claire Vargas, Maria Teresa Bengoechea-Alonso, Amira Alwa, Subrat Dahal, Prasanna R. Kolatkar, Sahar Da'as, Jerome Torrisani, Johan Ericsson, Farhan Mohammad, Omar M. Khan
Summary: This study reveals that the HECT domain E3 ubiquitin ligase TRIP12 controls TGF beta signaling in multiple models, independent of its ubiquitin ligase activity. This finding provides insights into the understanding and treatment of diseases associated with TGF beta signaling dysfunction.
CELL DEATH & DISEASE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Safa Salim, Sadam Hussain, Ayesha Banu, Swetha B. M. Gowda, Foysal Ahammad, Amira Alwa, Mujaheed Pasha, Farhan Mohammad
Summary: 1p32.3 microdeletion/duplication is associated with various neurodevelopmental disorders. The SSBP3 gene, located in this chromosomal region, is critical for neurodevelopment and is involved in autism-associated behaviors. Manipulation of the Ssdp gene in Drosophila leads to morphological alterations, changes in neuronal density and synaptic density, and perturbations in oxidative stress-related pathways. Flies with elevated Ssdp levels exhibit behavioral defects similar to autism, which can be partially rescued by normalizing Ssdp levels.
Editorial Material
Neurosciences
Farhan Mohammad, Mohd. Farooq Shaikh, Yasir Ahmed Syed, Fadel Tissir
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Raihan Rahman Imon, Abdus Samad, Rahat Alam, Ahad Amer Alsaiari, Md. Enamul Kabir Talukder, Mazen Almehmadi, Foysal Ahammad, Farhan Mohammad
Summary: This study aimed to design a novel multiepitope vaccine candidate against Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) caused by human Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV). The selected epitopes of cytotoxic T lymphocytes, helper T lymphocytes, and linear B lymphocytes corresponding to the virus were linked with linkers and adjuvant for vaccine construction. Molecular docking and dynamics simulations showed strong binding interactions between vaccine candidates and human Toll-like receptor 4. Computer-aided immune simulation found real-life-like immune response of vaccine candidates. Codon optimization facilitated the cloning of the vaccine candidates into the pET28+(a) cloning vector. The developed vaccine candidate is anticipated to augment the immune response and combat the virus effectively.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Mohamed Adil Shah Khoodoruth, Foysal Ahammad, Yasser Saeed Khan, Farhan Mohammad
Summary: This review comprehensively summarizes the current literature on the genetic factors linked with Tourette syndrome (TS) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), with a focus on OCD. The genetic framework of TS and OCD is complex and multifactorial, but several susceptibility loci and candidate genes have been identified that might play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of both disorders. In addition, post-infectious environmental factors have also been proposed to contribute to the development of TS-OCD, although the dynamics between genetic and environmental factors is not yet fully understood.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Edna C. Cieslik, Markus Ullsperger, Martin Gell, Simon B. Eickhoff, Robert Langner
Summary: Previous studies on error processing have primarily focused on the posterior medial frontal cortex, but the role of other brain regions has been underestimated. This study used activation likelihood estimation meta-analyses to explore brain activity related to committing errors and responding successfully in interference tasks. It was found that the salience network and the temporoparietal junction were commonly involved in both correct and incorrect responses, indicating their general involvement in coping with situations that require increased cognitive control. Error-specific convergence was observed in the dorsal posterior cingulate cortex, posterior thalamus, and left superior frontal gyrus, while successful responding showed stronger convergence in the dorsal attention network and lateral prefrontal regions. Underrecruitment of these regions in error trials may reflect failures in activating the appropriate stimulus-response contingencies necessary for successful response execution.
NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS
(2024)