Article
Clinical Neurology
Maria Bove, Stefania Schiavone, Paolo Tucci, Vladyslav Sikora, Stefania Dimonte, Anna Laura Colia, Maria Grazia Morgese, Luigia Trabace
Summary: This study investigated whether early ketamine administration in mice could induce behavioral features that mimic typical symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The results showed that adult mice receiving early ketamine administration exhibited increased stereotyped behaviors, social impairments, and anxiety-like behavior. Additionally, neurochemical and biomolecular analyses revealed alterations in neurotransmitters and immune activation biomarkers related to ASD in specific brain regions. These findings suggest that early ketamine administration may represent a suitable animal model for studying ASD-related symptoms.
PROGRESS IN NEURO-PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY & BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Roza M. Vlasova, Ana-Maria Iosif, Amy M. Ryan, Lucy H. Funk, Takeshi Murai, Shuai Chen, Tyler A. Lesh, Douglas J. Rowland, Jeffrey Bennett, Casey E. Hogrefe, Richard J. Maddock, Michael J. Gandal, Daniel H. Geschwind, Cynthia M. Schumann, Judy Van de Water, A. Kimberley McAllister, Cameron S. Carter, Martin A. Styner, David G. Amaral, Melissa D. Bauman
Summary: This study evaluated the neurodevelopment of male rhesus monkeys born to dams treated with maternal immune activation (MIA), finding subtle changes in cognitive development and deviations from species-typical brain growth trajectories in MIA-treated animals. Longitudinal MRI revealed significant gray matter volume reductions in the prefrontal and frontal cortices of MIA-treated offspring at 6 months, along with smaller frontal white matter volumes at later time points. These findings provide evidence of early postnatal changes in brain development in MIA-exposed nonhuman primates, establishing a relevant model system to explore the neurodevelopmental trajectory associated with prenatal immune challenge.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Patrick Devlin, Tauheed Ishrat, Ansley Grimes Stanfill
Summary: A systematic review was conducted to understand the role of cytokines in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). The review found that IL-1 beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha, which are pro-inflammatory cytokines, consistently increased following aSAH. However, there is a need for further research to explore the systemic inflammatory response, the balance of pro-/anti-inflammatory cytokines, and the relationship between biomarkers and patient outcomes.
TRANSLATIONAL STROKE RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Liliana Laskaris, Sam Mancuso, Cynthia Shannon Weickert, Andrew Zalesky, Gursharan Chana, Cassandra Wannan, Chad Bousman, Bernhard T. Baune, Patrick McGorry, Christos Pantelis, Vanessa L. Cropley
Summary: The study found differential relationships between peripheral inflammatory markers and select brain regions in first-episode psychosis (FEP) and healthy controls, although no relationships were detected in chronic schizophrenia. Specifically, frontal thickness was positively associated with certain cytokine levels in the healthy control group, while pro-inflammatory cytokines were associated with lower total cortical volume in the FEP group. Longitudinal investigations are needed to determine how the relationship between brain structure and peripheral inflammation may change over time.
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2021)
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Fernanda Elisa Ferreira Ananias, Victor Augusto Benedicto dos Santos, Francisco C. Groppo, Guilherme Elias Pessanha Henriques, Jose Roberto Toledo, Renata da Silva Pais, Sidney R. Figueroba
Summary: This study compared three models of inducing osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) of rats. The results showed that injecting complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) + type II bovine collagen (CII) into the TMJ induced OA, injecting CFA+CII into both the tail and TMJ induced RA+OA, and injecting CFA+CII only into the tail induced RA. After the injections, the thickness of the condylar cartilage and cytokine levels showed different changes in each group. Additionally, measuring cytokines to assess the severity of arthritis was feasible.
ARCHIVES OF ORAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Alexandra Jade Thawley, Luciana Peixoto Veneziani, Francisco Diego Rabelo-da-Ponte, Ingo Riederer, Daniella Areas Mendes-da-Cruz, Victorio Bambini-Junior
Summary: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by stereotyped behaviors, specific interests, and impaired communication skills. Elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-17A (IL-17) have been implicated as part of immune alterations in ASD. Studies using rodent models have shown the role of T-cell activation and IL-17 secretion in the pathogenesis of ASD. A systematic review of 28 studies on IL-17 levels in rodent models of ASD found that IL-17 levels were generally increased in different ASD models.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Ellen Ji, Danny Boerrigter, Helen Q. Cai, David Lloyd, Jason Bruggemann, Maryanne O'Donnell, Cherrie Galletly, Andrew Lloyd, Dennis Liu, Rhoshel Lenroot, Thomas W. Weickert, Cynthia Shannon Weickert
Summary: This study found that levels of complement factors, receptors, and regulators are significantly increased in patients with schizophrenia. Higher peripheral inflammation index scores are associated with reduced cortical thickness in the temporal lobe. These findings suggest that aberrant complement levels may play an important role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Wenjing Xiang, Nanyan Yu, Aihua Lei, Xiaofang Li, Shui Tan, Lijun Huang, Zhou Zhou
Summary: Chlamydial infection causes clinically relevant diseases and significant morbidity in humans. Immune and inflammatory responses play crucial roles in both clearing the infection and causing pathology in host tissues. Cytokines produced in response to Chlamydia infection can regulate immune responses, but excessive production can lead to overreactive inflammation, affecting host and Chlamydia metabolism.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Pediatrics
Samhita Jain, Rebecca J. Baer, Charles E. McCulloch, Elizabeth Rogers, Larry Rand, Laura Jelliffe-Pawlowski, Xianhua H. Piao
Summary: The study found that prenatal maternal immune activation (MIA) may be associated with a higher risk of neurologic morbidity in offspring during their first year of life, and that mothers with MIA had a significantly higher rate of preterm delivery.
JOURNAL OF PEDIATRICS
(2021)
Review
Behavioral Sciences
Heng-Chang Zhang, Yang Du, Lei Chen, Zeng-Qiang Yuan, Yong Cheng
Summary: Schizophrenia-related symptoms, including positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms, have serious effects on public health, affecting approximately 1% of the population. Recent studies have shown that besides the traditional dopaminergic pathway, the etiology of schizophrenia involves neuronal networks such as glutamate, GABA, serotonin, BDNF, oxidative stress, inflammation, and the immune system. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), small noncoding RNA molecules, have been identified as potential factors in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, influencing these systems. Understanding how changes in miRNAs affect critical signaling pathways could lead to improved approaches in treating and diagnosing schizophrenia.
NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nicolas Lamanna-Rama, Diego Romero-Miguel, Manuel Desco, Maria Luisa Soto-Montenegro
Summary: Curcumin, a therapeutic compound with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties, has been studied in preclinical and clinical trials for psychiatric disorders. While there are some positive results reported, the limited number of trials and protocol heterogeneity make it difficult to draw solid conclusions about the real efficacy of curcumin in psychiatric disorders.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Min Soo Kim, Young Hee Kim, Mi Sung Kim, ByungSuk Kwon, Hong Rae Cho
Summary: This study examined the upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines in an animal model of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and the effects of early anti-inflammatory therapy. The results suggest that administering anti-inflammatory drugs or vitamin D analogs in the early stage following TBI can help reduce secondary injury from neuroinflammation.
WORLD NEUROSURGERY
(2023)
Article
Ophthalmology
Zhi-zheng Li, Yan-ping Zou, Hui Zhu, Wei-zhen Zeng, Yi Ding, Jia-zeng Su, Guang-yan Yu
Summary: The purpose of this study was to establish a Beagle dog model of dry eye disease (DED). The DED models were induced by surgical removal of orbital lacrimal glands and entire resection of third eyelids in the left eyes of six Beagle dogs. The results showed that signs of DED appeared within one month after surgery and remained stable over time. The surgery-induced Beagle dog DED model is easily accessible and stable over a relatively long time.
TRANSLATIONAL VISION SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Kari L. Hanson, Ruth K. Weir, Ana-Maria Iosif, Judy Van de Water, Cameron S. Carter, Kimberley McAllister, Melissa D. Bauman, Cynthia M. Schumann
Summary: Women who contract an infection during pregnancy, either viral or bacterial, are at a higher risk of having a child with a neurodevelopmental or psychiatric disorder. Maternal immune response plays a crucial role in mediating the effects of maternal infection, as evidenced by previous studies on animal models. This study focuses on the impact of maternal immune activation during the first or second trimester on neuronal morphology in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and hippocampus of male rhesus monkeys. The findings reveal that offspring exposed to maternal immune activation exhibit increased dendritic branching in DLPFC pyramidal cells, particularly in the infra- and supragranular layers, and a decreased diameter of apical dendrites in the infragranular layer of DLPFC, independent of trimester exposure. However, no noticeable alterations in hippocampal neuronal morphology were observed. These results highlight the long-term consequences of maternal immune challenge on dendritic structure in a brain region crucial for socioemotional and cognitive development.
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Psychiatry
Kareen Heinze, Helen C. Barron, Emma K. Howes, Mani Ramaswami, Matthew R. Broome
Summary: In a healthy brain, maintaining balance between excitation and inhibition is crucial for neural stability. Reduced inhibition may be the underlying cause of shared symptoms in autism and psychosis, with altered levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) potentially providing a therapeutic target for both disorders.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tertia D. Purves-Tyson, Ulrike Weber-Stadlbauer, Juliet Richetto, Debora A. Rothmond, Marie A. Labouesse, Marcello Polesel, Kate Robinson, Cynthia Shannon Weickert, Urs Meyer
Summary: The research indicates that immune-related changes in the dopaminergic areas of the midbrain of schizophrenia patients are associated with a subgroup showing high immune status. The study also suggests that maternal immune activation (MIA) may be one of the contributing factors underlying persistent neuroimmune changes in the midbrain of people with schizophrenia.
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Sina M. Schalbetter, Flavia S. Mueller, Joseph Scarborough, Juliet Richetto, Ulrike Weber-Stadlbauer, Urs Meyer, Tina Notter
Summary: The study evaluated a new non-invasive drug administration technique, MDA, for oral administration of CNO to activate DREADDs, showing that MDA administration method effectively controlled the dose and timing of CNO activation of DREADDs.
Editorial Material
Neurosciences
Urs Meyer
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Joseph Scarborough, Daniele Mattei, Cornelia Dorner-Ciossek, Michael Sand, Roberto Arban, Holger Rosenbrock, Juliet Richetto, Urs Meyer
Summary: BI 409306, a potential treatment for schizophrenia and APS, shows promising effects in mitigating social interaction deficits and amphetamine-induced hyperlocomotion in a MIA mouse model. Additionally, treatment with BI 409306 during adolescence exhibits preventive effects on adult social interaction deficits.
NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Kateryna Murlanova, Dilorom Begmatova, Ulrike Weber-Stadlbauer, Urs Meyer, Mikhail Pletnikov, Albert Pinhasov
Summary: Viral infections during pregnancy may increase the incidence of psychiatric disorders in offspring, possibly due to deleterious effects of maternal immune response on fetal development. Inherited stress sensitivity may lead to immune reactivity heterogeneity, impacting the pathological consequences of maternal immune activation.
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2022)
Article
Psychiatry
Ryad Tamouza, Urs Meyer, Marianne Foiselle, Jean-Romain Richard, Ching-lieng Lu, Wahid Boukouaci, Philippe Le Corvoisier, Caroline Barrau, Alexandre Lucas, Herve Perron, Marion Leboyer
Summary: Our study found that subsets of patients with schizophrenia (approximately 41%) and bipolar disorder (approximately 28%) show positive antigenemia for HERV-W ENV protein, while the large majority of healthy controls (96%) was found to be negative. Unsupervised cluster analysis identified two main clusters of patients, best predicted by the presence or absence of HERV-W ENV protein. HERV-W expression was associated with increased serum levels of inflammatory cytokines and higher childhood maltreatment scores.
TRANSLATIONAL PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Correction
Psychiatry
Ryad Tamouza, Urs Meyer, Marianne Foiselle, Jean-Romain Richard, Ching-lien Wu, Wahid Boukouaci, Philippe Le Corvoisier, Caroline Barrau, Alexandre Lucas, Herve Perron, Marion Leboyer
TRANSLATIONAL PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sina M. Schalbetter, Anina S. von Arx, Natalia Cruz-Ochoa, Kara Dawson, Andranik Ivanov, Flavia S. Mueller, Han-Yu Lin, Rene Amport, Wiebke Mildenberger, Daniele Mattei, Dieter Beule, Csaba Foeldy, Melanie Greter, Tina Notter, Urs Meyer
Summary: The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is a crucial brain region responsible for cognitive functions. Microglia, the immune cells in the brain, play an important role in the maturation of the PFC during adolescence. Deficiency of prefrontal microglia in adolescence can lead to impairments in cognitive functions associated with the PFC in adulthood.
Article
Neurosciences
Stephanie Raymann, Sina M. Schalbetter, Ron Schaer, Alexandra C. Bernhardt, Flavia S. Mueller, Urs Meyer, Ulrike Weber-Stadlbauer
Summary: Prenatal immune activation can have transgenerational effects on brain and behavior, affecting cognitive functions and gene expression patterns across multiple generations. These effects are found to be transmitted through both maternal and paternal lineages and are accompanied by changes in maternal care behavior.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Andranik Ivanov, Daniele Mattei, Kathrin Radscheit, Anne-Claire Compagnion, Jan Patrick Pett, Hanspeter Herzel, Rosa Chiara Paolicelli, Monika Piwecka, Urs Meyer, Dieter Beule
Summary: This study quantified the daily expression changes of circRNA in healthy adult animals and found that Cdr1as is highly expressed in the brain and shows dynamic expression changes throughout the LD cycle. The researchers hypothesize that the expression changes of Cdr1as in the SCN are associated with light-induced phase shifts.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Felisa Herrero, Flavia S. Mueller, Joel Gruchot, Patrick Kuery, Ulrike Weber-Stadlbauer, Urs Meyer
Summary: This study suggests that maternal immune activation (MIA), an environmental risk factor, can lead to altered expression of endogenous retroviruses (ERVs), which may be associated with the development of psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders.
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Joel Gruchot, Felisa Herrero, Ulrike Weber-Stadlbauer, Urs Meyer, Patrick Kuery
Summary: Human endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are retroviral elements integrated into our genome through germline infections and insertions, and have been implicated in the pathophysiology of various disorders, particularly those affecting the central nervous system. Increasing evidence suggests that the induction and expression of ERVs are associated with neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders, and a common factor in these disorders is the presence of chronic inflammation. This review discusses the bidirectional relationship between ERV expression and inflammation, and identifies several pathways that contribute to this relationship.
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Anina S. von Arx, Kara Dawson, Han-Yu Lin, Daniele Mattei, Tina Notter, Urs Meyer, Sina M. Schalbetter
Summary: The prefrontal cortex (PFC) in the brain plays an important role in cognitive processes and matures throughout adolescence to early adulthood. Recent research using a mouse model shows that microglia, a type of brain cell, contribute to the maturation of the PFC in males. This study aimed to investigate whether microglia have a similar role in the maturation of the female PFC. The findings demonstrate that transient depletion of microglia during a specific window of adolescence disrupts cognitive functions and synaptic structures in the female PFC.
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Joel Gruchot, Isabel Lewen, Michael Dietrich, Laura Reiche, Mustafa Sindi, Christina Hecker, Felisa Herrero, Benjamin Charvet, Ulrike Weber-Stadlbauer, Hans-Peter Hartung, Philipp Albrecht, Herve Perron, Urs Meyer, Patrick Kuery
Summary: The encoded envelope protein of human endogenous retrovirus type W (HERV-W) interferes with myelin repair and contributes to cell damage in multiple sclerosis (MS), according to recent research.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Psychiatry
Ryad Tamouza, Urs Meyer, Alexandre Lucas, Jean Romain Richard, Irene Nkam, Armand Pinot, Ndilyam Djonouma, Wahid Boukouaci, Benjamin Charvet, Justine Pierquin, Joanna Brunel, Slim Fourati, Christophe Rodriguez, Caroline Barau, Philippe Le Corvoisier, Kawtar El Abdellati, Livia De Picker, Herve Perron, Marion Leboyer
Summary: Epidemiological studies have shown a link between certain infections and an increased risk of developing psychiatric disorders. These infections can activate retro-transposable genetic elements (HERV), which in turn impact immune receptors and synaptic plasticity. Recent research has found an association between the HERV-W ENV protein and pro-inflammatory cytokines in patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. The COVID-19 pandemic's influence on patients with psychosis spectrum disorders (PSD) was investigated, revealing a high prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in PSD patients, with HERV-W ENV detected only in seropositive individuals. SARS-CoV-2 infection and HERV-W ENV positivity were found to co-cluster with high levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in psychotic patients. These findings suggest a dominant influence of the virus on HERV-W ENV and cytokine expression, and the need for further investigation into the interplay between viral infection and the clinical evolution of PSD patients.
TRANSLATIONAL PSYCHIATRY
(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)
