Compromised Hippocampal Neuroplasticity in the Interferon-α and Toll-like Receptor-3 Activation-Induced Mouse Depression Model (original) (raw)

Immunomodulatory Effect of Toll-Like Receptor-3 Ligand Poly I:C on Cortical Spreading Depression

Molecular neurobiology, 2014

The release of inflammatory mediators following cortical spreading depression (CSD) is suggested to play a role in pathophysiology of CSD-related neurological disorders. Toll-like receptors (TLR) are master regulators of innate immune function and involved in the activation of inflammatory responses in the brain. TLR3 agonist poly I:C exerts anti-inflammatory effect and prevents cell injury in the brain. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of systemic administration of poly I:C on the release of cytokines (TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-4, TGF-β1, and GM-CSF) in the brain and spleen, splenic lymphocyte proliferation, expression of GAD65, GABAAα, GABAAβ as well as Hsp70, and production of dark neurons after induction of repetitive CSD in juvenile rats. Poly I:C significantly attenuated CSD-induced production of TNF-α and IFN-γ in the brain as well as TNF-α and IL-4 in the spleen. Poly I:C did not affect enhancement of splenic lymphocyte proliferation after CSD. Administration of...

Antidepressant Effects of TrkB Ligands on Depression-Like Behavior and Dendritic Changes in Mice After Inflammation

The international journal of neuropsychopharmacology / official scientific journal of the Collegium Internationale Neuropsychopharmacologicum (CINP), 2014

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its receptor, tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB), signaling represent potential therapeutic targets for major depressive disorder. The purpose of this study is to examine whether TrkB ligands show antidepressant effects in an inflammation-induced model of depression. In this study, we examined the effects of TrkB agonist 7,8-dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF) and TrkB antagonist ANA-12 on depression-like behavior and morphological changes in mice previously exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Protein levels of BDNF, phospho-TrkB (p-TrkB), and TrkB in the brain regions were also examined. LPS caused a reduction of BDNF in the CA3 and dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex (PFC), whereas LPS increased BDNF in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Dexamethason suppression tests showed hyperactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in LPS-treated mice. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of 7,8-DHF showed antidepressant effe...

Concomitant Interferon Alpha Stimulation and TLR3 Activation Induces Neuronal Expression of Depression-Related Genes That Are Elevated in the Brain of Suicidal Persons

PLoS ONE, 2013

We have previously identified 15 genes that are associated with the development of severe depressive side effects during the standard therapy with interferon alpha and ribavirin in the peripheral blood of hepatitis C virus infected patients. An enhanced expression of these genes was also found in the blood of psychiatric patients suffering severe depressive episode. Herein, we demonstrate that the same depression-related interferon-inducible genes (DRIIs) are also upregulated in postmortem brains of suicidal individuals. Using cultured mouse hippocampal and prefrontal neurons we show that costimulation with murine IFN (mIFN) and the TLR3 agonist poly(I:C) promotes the expression of the described DRIIs, at the same time inducing pro-inflammatory cytokine expression through Stat1 and Stat3 activation, promoting neuronal apoptosis. Consequently, the upregulation of selective DRIIs, production of inflammatory cytokines and inhibition of neuronal plasticity may be involved in the pathogenesis of IFN-associated depression.

Origin and consequences of brain Toll-like receptor 4 pathway stimulation in an experimental model of depression

Journal of Neuroinflammation, 2011

Background There is a pressing need to identify novel pathophysiological pathways relevant to depression that can help to reveal targets for the development of new medications. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) has a regulatory role in the brain's response to stress. Psychological stress may compromise the intestinal barrier, and increased gastrointestinal permeability with translocation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Gram-negative bacteria may play a role in the pathophysiology of major depression. Methods Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to chronic mild stress (CMS) or CMS+intestinal antibiotic decontamination (CMS+ATB) protocols. Levels of components of the TLR-4 signaling pathway, of LPS and of different inflammatory, oxidative/nitrosative and anti-inflammatory mediators were measured by RT-PCR, western blot and/or ELISA in brain prefrontal cortex. Behavioral despair was studied using Porsolt's test. Results CMS increased levels of TLR-4 and its co-receptor MD-...

Mechanisms for interferon-α-induced depression and neural stem cell dysfunction

Stem cell reports, 2014

New neurons generated by the neural stem cells (NSCs) in the adult hippocampus play an important role in emotional regulation and respond to the action of antidepressants. Depression is a common and serious side effect of interferon-α (IFN-α), which limits its use as an antiviral and antitumor drug. However, the mechanism(s) underlying IFN-induced depression are largely unknown. Using a comprehensive battery of behavioral tests, we found that mice subjected to IFN-α treatment exhibited a depression-like phenotype. IFN-α directly suppressed NSC proliferation, resulting in the reduced generation of new neurons. Brain-specific mouse knockout of the IFN-α receptor prevented IFN-α-induced depressive behavioral phenotypes and the inhibition of neurogenesis, suggesting that IFN-α suppresses hippocampal neurogenesis and induces depression via its receptor in the brain. These findings provide insight for understanding the neuropathology underlying IFN-α-induced depression and for developing ...

The role of inflammation in the pathophysiology of depression: different treatments and their effects

The Journal of rheumatology. Supplement, 2011

Compelling evidence suggests that inflammation contributes to the development of depression. Many depressed individuals have higher levels of proinflammatory mediators, which appear to interact with many of the pathophysiological domains of depression, including neuroendocrine function, neurotransmitter metabolism, and synaptic plasticity. This is further supported by observation that therapeutic administration of interferon-α (IFN-α) leads to depression in a significant proportion of patients. These findings suggest that targeting proinflammatory cytokines and their signaling pathways may represent a unique therapeutic opportunity to treat depression and related conditions, such as labile anger, irritability, and fatigue.

Interferon-α inhibits long-term potentiation and unmasks a long-term depression in the rat hippocampus

Brain Research, 2000

Interferons (IFN) appear to have various neuromodulatory actions. Here, we characterized the actions of IFN-a on the electrophysiological properties of CA1 hippocampal neurons using intracellular recordings. Superfusion of this cytokine did not alter the resting membrane potential, cell input resistance, action potentials, nor GABA-mediated fast synaptic potentials. IFN-a inhibited glutamatemediated excitatory postsynaptic potentials (gEPSPs) and reversed or prevented long-term potentiation (LTP) induced by high-frequency tetanic stimulation. IFN-a reduced gEPSP amplitude far below its control value. Only a short-term potentiation (STP) was observed when either IFN-a or D-2-amino-5-phosphonovalerato (APV; NMDA receptor antagonist) were present during tetanic stimulation. After this STP in presence of APV, IFN-a had no effect on gEPSPs. APV had no effect on LTP when applied after tetanic stimulation and did also not prevent IFN-a effect on LTP. Genistein (a tyrosine kinase inhibitor) or heat inactivation prevented IFN-a effects. IFN-a also decreased the depolarization induced by local application of glutamate but did not modify those induced by NMDA. Similarly, IFN-a reversed the potentiation (induced by tetanic stimulation) of glutamate-induced depolarizations. IFN-a did not affect long-term depression (LTD) induced by low-frequency tetanic stimulation. In conclusion, IFN-a-induced inhibition of LTP is, at least in part, mediated by a postsynaptic effect, by tyrosine kinase activity, and by non-NMDA glutamate receptors. Inhibition of LTP by IFN-a unmasks LTD which is induced by the same high-frequency tetanic stimulation.

Depression is an inflammatory disease, but cell-mediated immune activation is the key component of depression

Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, 2011

The first findings that depression is characterized by cell-mediated immune activation and inflammation were published between 1990. Recently, it was reported thatbased on meta-analysis resultsdepression is an inflammatory disorder because the plasma levels of two cytokines are increased, i.e. interleukin-(IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα). The same meta-analysis found that plasma IL-2 and interferon-(IFN)γ levels are not altered in depression, suggesting that there is no T cell activation in that illness. The present paper reviews the body of evidence that depression is accompanied by cell-mediated immune activation. The findings include: increased serum levels of the soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R) and the sCD8 molecule; increased numbers and percentages of T cells bearing T cell activation markers, such as CD2+CD25+, CD3+CD25+, and HLA-DR+; increased stimulated production of IFNγ; higher neopterin and sTNFR-1 or sTNFR-2 levels; induction of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) with lowered levels of plasma tryptophan and increased levels of tryptophan catabolites along the IDO pathway (TRYCATs); and glucocorticoid resistance in immune cells. Interferon-α (IFNα)-based immunotherapy shows that baseline and IFNα-induced activation of T cells, IDO activity and TRYCAT formation are related to the development of IFNα-induced depressive symptoms. Animal models of depression show that a cell-mediated immune response is related to the development of depression-like behavior. Antidepressants and mood stabilizers suppress different aspects of cell-mediated immunity and rather specifically target IFNγ production. This review shows that inflammation and cell-mediated immune activation are key factors in depression.