TY - JOUR A1 - Enge, Sören A1 - Fleischhauer, Monika A1 - Gärtner, Anne A1 - Reif, Andreas A1 - Lesch, Klaus-Peter A1 - Kliegel, Matthias A1 - Strobel, Alexander T1 - Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (Val66Met) and Serotonin Transporter (5-HTTLPR) Polymorphisms Modulate Plasticity in Inhibitory Control Performance Over Time but Independent of Inhibitory Control Training JF - Frontiers in Human Neuroscience N2 - Several studies reported training-induced improvements in executive function tasks and also observed transfer to untrained tasks. However, the results are mixed and there is a large interindividual variability within and across studies. Given that training-related performance changes would require modification, growth or differentiation at the cellular and synaptic level in the brain, research on critical moderators of brain plasticity potentially explaining such changes is needed. In the present study, a pre-post-follow-up design (N = 122) and a 3-weeks training of two response inhibition tasks (Go/NoGo and Stop-Signal) was employed and genetic variation (Val66Met) in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) promoting differentiation and activity-dependent synaptic plasticity was examined. Because Serotonin (5-HT) signaling and the interplay of BDNF and 5-HT are known to critically mediate brain plasticity, genetic variation in the 5-HTT gene-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) was also addressed. The overall results show that the kind of training (i.e., adaptive vs. non-adaptive) did not evoke genotype-dependent differences. However, in the Go/NoGo task, better inhibition performance (lower commission errors) were observed for BDNF Val/Val genotype carriers compared to Met-allele ones supporting similar findings from other cognitive tasks. Additionally, a gene-gene interaction suggests a more impulsive response pattern (faster responses accompanied by higher commission error rates) in homozygous l-allele carriers relative to those with the s-allele of 5-HTTLPR. This, however, is true only in the presence of the Met-allele of BDNF, while the Val/Val genotype seems to compensate for such non-adaptive responding. Intriguingly, similar results were obtained for the Stop-Signal task. Here, differences emerged at post-testing, while no differences were observed at T1. In sum, although no genotype-dependent differences between the relevant training groups emerged suggesting no changes in the trained inhibition function, the observed genotype-dependent performance changes from pre- to post measurement may reflect rapid learning or memory effects linked to BDNF and 5-HTTLPR. In line with ample evidence on BDNF and BDNF-5-HT system interactions to induce (rapid) plasticity especially in hippocampal regions and in response to environmental demands, the findings may reflect genotype-dependent differences in the acquisition and consolidation of task-relevant information, thereby facilitating a more adaptive responding to task-specific requirements. KW - executive function training KW - response inhibition KW - neuronal plasticity KW - BDNF Val66Met KW - 5-HTTLPR Y1 - 2016 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-165176 VL - 10 IS - 370 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Meyer, Neele A1 - Richter, S. Helene A1 - Schreiber, Rebecca S. A1 - Kloke, Vanessa A1 - Kaiser, Sylvia A1 - Lesch, Klaus-Peter A1 - Sachser, Norbert T1 - The Unexpected Effects of Beneficial and Adverse Social Experiences during Adolescence on Anxiety and Aggression and Their Modulation by Genotype JF - Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience N2 - Anxiety and aggression are part of the behavioral repertoire of humans and animals. However, in their exaggerated form both can become maladaptive and result in psychiatric disorders. On the one hand, genetic predisposition has been shown to play a crucial modulatory role in anxiety and aggression. On the other hand, social experiences have been implicated in the modulation of these traits. However, so far, mainly experiences in early life phases have been considered crucial for shaping anxiety-like and aggressive behavior, while the phase of adolescence has largely been neglected. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to elucidate how levels of anxiety-like and aggressive behavior are shaped by social experiences during adolescence and serotonin transporter (5-HTT) genotype. For this purpose, male mice of a 5-HTT knockout mouse model including all three genotypes (wildtype, heterozygous and homozygous 5-HTT knockout mice) were either exposed to an adverse social situation or a beneficial social environment during adolescence. This was accomplished in a custom-made cage system where mice experiencing the adverse environment were repeatedly introduced to the territory of a dominant opponent but had the possibility to escape to a refuge cage. Mice encountering beneficial social conditions had free access to a female mating partner. Afterwards, anxiety-like and aggressive behavior was assessed in a battery of tests. Surprisingly, unfavorable conditions during adolescence led to a decrease in anxiety-like behavior and an increase in exploratory locomotion. Additionally, aggressive behavior was augmented in animals that experienced social adversity. Concerning genotype, homozygous 5-HTT knockout mice were more anxious and less aggressive than heterozygous 5-HTT knockout and wildtype mice. In summary, adolescence is clearly an important phase in which anxiety-like and aggressive behavior can be shaped. Furthermore, it seems that having to cope with challenge during adolescence instead of experiencing throughout beneficial social conditions leads to reduced levels of anxiety-like behavior. KW - adolescence KW - aggressiveness KW - serotonin transporter KW - coping with challenge KW - adversity KW - anxiety-like behavior KW - social experience KW - 5-HTT knockout mice Y1 - 2016 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-165090 VL - 10 IS - 97 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Strekalova, Tatyana A1 - Markova, Nataliia A1 - Shevtsova, Elena A1 - Zubareva, Olga A1 - Bakhmet, Anastassia A1 - Steinbusch, Harry M. A1 - Bachurin, Sergey A1 - Lesch, Klaus-Peter T1 - Individual Differences in Behavioural Despair Predict Brain GSK-3beta Expression in Mice: The Power of a Modified Swim Test JF - Neural Plasticity N2 - While deficient brain plasticity is a well-established pathophysiologic feature of depression, little is known about disorder-associated enhanced cognitive processing. Here, we studied a novel mouse paradigm that potentially models augmented learning of adverse memories during development of a depressive-like state. We used a modification of the classic two-day protocol of a mouse Porsolt test with an additional session occurring on Day 5 following the initial exposure. Unexpectedly, floating behaviour and brain glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK-3beta) mRNA levels, a factor of synaptic plasticity as well as a marker of distress and depression, were increased during the additional swimming session that was prevented by imipramine. Observed increases of GSK-3beta mRNA in prefrontal cortex during delayed testing session correlated with individual parameters of behavioural despair that was not found in the classic Porsolt test. Repeated swim exposure was accompanied by a lower pGSK-3beta/GSK-3beta ratio. A replacement of the second or the final swim sessions with exposure to the context of testing resulted in increased GSK-3beta mRNA level similar to the effects of swimming, while exclusion of the second testing prevented these changes. Together, our findings implicate the activation of brain GSK-3beta expression in enhanced contextual conditioning of adverse memories, which is associated with an individual susceptibility to a depressive syndrome. KW - mice KW - swim test Y1 - 2016 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-147379 VL - 2016 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Wolf, Karen A1 - Braun, Attila A1 - Haining, Elizabeth J. A1 - Tseng, Yu-Lun A1 - Kraft, Peter A1 - Schuhmann, Michael K. A1 - Gotru, Sanjeev K. A1 - Chen, Wenchun A1 - Hermanns, Heike M. A1 - Stoll, Guido A1 - Lesch, Klaus-Peter A1 - Nieswandt, Bernhard T1 - Partially Defective Store Operated Calcium Entry and Hem(ITAM) Signaling in Platelets of Serotonin Transporter Deficient Mice JF - PLoS One N2 - Background Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamin, 5-HT) is an indolamine platelet agonist, biochemically derived from tryptophan. 5-HT is secreted from the enterochromaffin cells into the gastrointestinal tract and blood. Blood 5-HT has been proposed to regulate hemostasis by acting as a vasoconstrictor and by triggering platelet signaling through 5-HT receptor 2A (5HTR2A). Although platelets do not synthetize 5-HT, they take 5-HT up from the blood and store it in their dense granules which are secreted upon platelet activation. Objective To identify the molecular composite of the 5-HT uptake system in platelets and elucidate the role of platelet released 5-HT in thrombosis and ischemic stroke. Methods: 5-HT transporter knockout mice (5Htt\(^{-/-}\)) were analyzed in different in vitro and in vivo assays and in a model of ischemic stroke. Results In 5Htt\(^{-/-}\) platelets, 5-HT uptake from the blood was completely abolished and agonist-induced Ca2+ influx through store operated Ca\(^{2+}\) entry (SOCE), integrin activation, degranulation and aggregation responses to glycoprotein VI (GPVI) and C-type lectin-like receptor 2 (CLEC-2) were reduced. These observed in vitro defects in 5Htt\(^{-/-}\) platelets could be normalized by the addition of exogenous 5-HT. Moreover, reduced 5-HT levels in the plasma, an increased bleeding time and the formation of unstable thrombi were observed ex vivo under flow and in vivo in the abdominal aorta and carotid artery of 5Htt\(^{-/-}\) mice. Surprisingly, in the transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) model of ischemic stroke 5Htt\(^{-/-}\) mice showed nearly normal infarct volume and the neurological outcome was comparable to control mice. Conclusion Although secreted platelet 5-HT does not appear to play a crucial role in the development of reperfusion injury after stroke, it is essential to amplify the second phase of platelet activation through SOCE and plays an important role in thrombus stabilization. KW - platelets KW - serotonin KW - integrins KW - blood flow KW - collagens KW - platelet activation KW - platelet aggregation KW - ischemic stroke Y1 - 2016 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-146399 VL - 11 IS - 1 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Couch, Yvonne A1 - Trofimov, Alexander A1 - Markova, Natalyia A1 - Nikolenko, Vladimir A1 - Steinbusch, Harry W. A1 - Chekhonin, Vladimir A1 - Schroeter, Careen A1 - Lesch, Klaus-Peter A1 - Anthony, Daniel C. A1 - Strekalova, Tatyana T1 - Low-dose lipopolysaccharide (LPS) inhibits aggressive and augments depressive behaviours in a chronic mild stress model in mice JF - Journal of Neuroinflammation N2 - Background Aggression, hyperactivity, impulsivity, helplessness and anhedonia are all signs of depressive-like disorders in humans and are often reported to be present in animal models of depression induced by stress or by inflammatory challenges. However, chronic mild stress (CMS) and clinically silent inflammation, during the recovery period after an infection, for example, are often coincident, but comparison of the behavioural and molecular changes that underpin CMS vs a mild inflammatory challenge and impact of the combined challenge is largely unexplored. Here, we examined whether stress-induced behavioural and molecular responses are analogous to lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced behavioural and molecular effects and whether their combination is adaptive or maladaptive. Methods Changes in measures of hedonic sensitivity, helplessness, aggression, impulsivity and CNS and systemic cytokine and 5-HT-system-related gene expression were investigated in C57BL/6J male mice exposed to chronic stress alone, low-dose LPS alone or a combination of LPS and stress. Results When combined with a low dose of LPS, chronic stress resulted in an enhanced depressive-like phenotype but significantly reduced manifestations of aggression and hyperactivity. At the molecular level, LPS was a strong inducer of TNFα, IL-1β and region-specific 5-HT2A mRNA expression in the brain. There was also increased serum corticosterone as well as increased TNFα expression in the liver. Stress did not induce comparable levels of cytokine expression to an LPS challenge, but the combination of stress with LPS reduced the stress-induced changes in 5-HT genes and the LPS-induced elevated IL-1β levels. Conclusions It is evident that when administered independently, both stress and LPS challenges induced distinct molecular and behavioural changes. However, at a time when LPS alone does not induce any overt behavioural changes per se, the combination with stress exacerbates depressive and inhibits aggressive behaviours. KW - SERT KW - Chronic stress KW - LPS KW - Aggressive behaviour KW - S-HT KW - Cytokines Y1 - 2016 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-165676 VL - 13 IS - 108 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Song, Ning-Ning A1 - Jia, Yun-Fang A1 - Zhang, Lei A1 - Zhang, Qiong A1 - Huang, Ying A1 - Liu, Xiao-Zhen A1 - Hu, Ling A1 - Lan, Wei A1 - Chen, Ling A1 - Lesch, Klaus-Peter A1 - Chen, Xiaoyan A1 - Xu, Lin A1 - Ding, Yu-Qiang T1 - Reducing central serotonin in adulthood promotes hippocampal neurogenesis JF - Scientific Reports N2 - Chronic administration of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which up-regulates central serotonin (5-HT) system function, enhances adult hippocampal neurogenesis. However, the relationship between central 5-HT system and adult neurogenesis has not fully been understood. Here, we report that lowering 5-HT level in adulthood is also able to enhance adult hippocampal neurogenesis. We used tamoxifen (TM)-induced Cre in Pet1-CreER\(^{T2}\) mice to either deplete central serotonergic (5-HTergic) neurons or inactivate 5-HT synthesis in adulthood and explore the role of central 5-HT in adult hippocampal neurogenesis. A dramatic increase in hippocampal neurogenesis is present in these two central 5-HT-deficient mice and it is largely prevented by administration of agonist for 5-HTR2c receptor. In addition, the survival of new-born neurons in the hippocampus is enhanced. Furthermore, the adult 5-HT-deficient mice showed reduced depression-like behaviors but enhanced contextual fear memory. These findings demonstrate that lowering central 5-HT function in adulthood can also enhance adult hippocampal neurogenesis, thus revealing a new aspect of central 5-HT in regulating adult neurogenesis. KW - serotonin KW - SSRI KW - hippocampal neurogenesis KW - adulthood Y1 - 2016 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-168004 VL - 6 IS - 20338 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Prelog, Martina A1 - Hilligardt, Deborah A1 - Schmidt, Christian A. A1 - Przybylski, Grzegorz K. A1 - Leierer, Johannes A1 - Almanzar, Giovanni A1 - El Hajj, Nady A1 - Lesch, Klaus-Peter A1 - Arolt, Volker A1 - Zwanzger, Peter A1 - Haaf, Thomas A1 - Domschke, Katharina T1 - Hypermethylation of FOXP3 Promoter and Premature Aging of the Immune System in Female Patients with Panic Disorder? JF - PLoS ONE N2 - Immunological abnormalities associated with pathological conditions, such as higher infection rates, inflammatory diseases, cancer or cardiovascular events are common in patients with panic disorder. In the present study, T cell receptor excision circles (TRECs), Forkhead-Box-Protein P3 gene (FOXP3) methylation of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and relative telomere lengths (RTLs) were investigated in a total and subsamples of 131 patients with panic disorder as compared to 131 age- and sex-matched healthy controls in order to test for a potential dysfunction and premature aging of the immune system in anxiety disorders. Significantly lower TRECs (p = 0.004) as well as significant hypermethylation of the FOXP3 promoter region (p = 0.005) were observed in female (but not in male) patients with panic disorder as compared to healthy controls. No difference in relative telomere length was discerned between patients and controls, but significantly shorter telomeres in females, smokers and older persons within the patient group. The presently observed reduced TRECs in panic disorder patients and FOXP3 hypermethylation in female patients with panic disorder potentially reflect impaired thymus and immunosuppressive Treg function, which might partly account for the known increased morbidity and mortality of anxiety disorders conferred by e.g. cancer and cardiovascular disorders. KW - DNA methylation KW - antidepressants KW - regulatory T cells KW - panic disorder KW - treatment guidelines KW - telomere length KW - inflammatory diseases KW - anxiety disorders Y1 - 2016 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-179684 VL - 11 IS - 6 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Brevik, Erlend J A1 - van Donkelaar, Marjolein M. J. A1 - Weber, Heike A1 - Sánchez-Mora, Cristina A1 - Jacob, Christian A1 - Rivero, Olga A1 - Kittel-Schneider, Sarah A1 - Garcia-martinez, Iris A1 - Aebi, Marcel A1 - van Hulzen, Kimm A1 - Cormand, Bru A1 - Ramos-Quiroga, Josep A A1 - Lesch, Klaus-Peter A1 - Reif, Andreas A1 - Ribases, Marta A1 - Franke, Barbara A1 - Posserud, Maj-Britt A1 - Johansson, Stefan A1 - Lundervold, Astri J. A1 - Haavik, Jan A1 - Zayats, Tetyana T1 - Genome-wide analyses of aggressiveness in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder JF - American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B-Neuropsychiatric Genetics N2 - Aggressiveness is a behavioral trait that has the potential to be harmful to individuals and society. With an estimated heritability of about 40%, genetics is important in its development. We performed an exploratory genome-wide association (GWA) analysis of childhood aggressiveness in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to gain insight into the underlying biological processes associated with this trait. Our primary sample consisted of 1,060 adult ADHD patients (aADHD). To further explore the genetic architecture of childhood aggressiveness, we performed enrichment analyses of suggestive genome-wide associations observed in aADHD among GWA signals of dimensions of oppositionality (defiant/vindictive and irritable dimensions) in childhood ADHD (cADHD). No single polymorphism reached genome-wide significance (P<5.00E-08). The strongest signal in aADHD was observed at rs10826548, within a long noncoding RNA gene (beta = -1.66, standard error (SE) = 0.34, P = 1.07E-06), closely followed by rs35974940 in the neurotrimin gene (beta = 3.23, SE = 0.67, P = 1.26E-06). The top GWA SNPs observed in aADHD showed significant enrichment of signals from both the defiant/vindictive dimension (Fisher's P-value = 2.28E-06) and the irritable dimension in cADHD (Fisher's P-value = 0.0061). In sum, our results identify a number of biologically interesting markers possibly underlying childhood aggressiveness and provide targets for further genetic exploration of aggressiveness across psychiatric disorders. KW - Large multicenter ADHD KW - Antisocial behavior KW - Diagnostic approach KW - Rating scale KW - Gene KW - Deficit/hyperactivity disorder KW - Susceptibility loci KW - Conduct disorder KW - Association KW - Adult KW - ADHD KW - Aggression KW - GWAS Y1 - 2016 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-188116 VL - 171B IS - 5 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Gutknecht, Lise A1 - Popp, Sandy A1 - Waider, Jonas A1 - Sommerlandt, Frank M. J. A1 - Göppner, Corinna A1 - Post, Antonia A1 - Reif, Andreas A1 - van den Hove, Daniel A1 - Strekalova, Tatyana A1 - Schmitt, Angelika A1 - Colaςo, Maria B. N. A1 - Sommer, Claudia A1 - Palme, Rupert A1 - Lesch, Klaus-Peter T1 - Interaction of brain 5-HT synthesis deficiency, chronic stress and sex differentially impact emotional behavior in Tph2 knockout mice JF - Psychopharmacology N2 - Rationale While brain serotonin (5-HT) function is implicated in gene-by-environment interaction (GxE) impacting the vulnerability-resilience continuum in neuropsychiatric disorders, it remains elusive how the interplay of altered 5-HT synthesis and environmental stressors is linked to failure in emotion regulation. Objective Here, we investigated the effect of constitutively impaired 5-HT synthesis on behavioral and neuroendocrine responses to unpredictable chronic mild stress (CMS) using a mouse model of brain 5-HT deficiency resulting from targeted inactivation of the tryptophan hydroxylase-2 (Tph2) gene. Results Locomotor activity and anxiety- and depression-like behavior as well as conditioned fear responses were differentially affected by Tph2 genotype, sex, and CMS. Tph2 null mutants (Tph2\(^{−/−}\)) displayed increased general metabolism, marginally reduced anxiety- and depression-like behavior but strikingly increased conditioned fear responses. Behavioral modifications were associated with sex-specific hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) system alterations as indicated by plasma corticosterone and fecal corticosterone metabolite concentrations. Tph2\(^{−/−}\) males displayed increased impulsivity and high aggressiveness. Tph2\(^{−/−}\) females displayed greater emotional reactivity to aversive conditions as reflected by changes in behaviors at baseline including increased freezing and decreased locomotion in novel environments. However, both Tph2\(^{−/−}\) male and female mice were resilient to CMS-induced hyperlocomotion, while CMS intensified conditioned fear responses in a GxE-dependent manner. Conclusions Our results indicate that 5-HT mediates behavioral responses to environmental adversity by facilitating the encoding of stress effects leading to increased vulnerability for negative emotionality. KW - Serotonin KW - Tryptophan hydroxylase-2 (Tph2) KW - chronic stress KW - gene-by-environment interaction KW - anxiety KW - fear KW - depression KW - aggression Y1 - 2015 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-154586 VL - 232 SP - 2429 EP - 2441 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Cline, Brandon H. A1 - Costa-Nunes, Joao P. A1 - Cespuglio, Raymond A1 - Markova, Natalyia A1 - Santos, Ana I. A1 - Bukhman, Yury V. A1 - Kubatiev, Aslan A1 - Steinbusch, Harry W. M. A1 - Lesch, Klaus-Peter A1 - Strekalova, Tatyana T1 - Dicholine succinate, the neuronal insulin sensitizer, normalizes behavior, REM sleep, hippocampal pGSK3 beta and mRNAs of NMDA receptor subunits in mouse models of depression JF - Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience N2 - Central insulin receptor-mediated signaling is attracting the growing attention of researchers because of rapidly accumulating evidence implicating it in the mechanisms of plasticity, stress response, and neuropsychiatric disorders including depression. Dicholine succinate (DS), a mitochondrial complex II substrate, was shown to enhance insulin-receptor mediated signaling in neurons and is regarded as a sensitizer of the neuronal insulin receptor. Compounds enhancing neuronal insulin receptor-mediated transmission exert an antidepressant-like effect in several pre-clinical paradigms of depression; similarly, such properties for DS were found with a stress-induced anhedonia model. Here, we additionally studied the effects of DS on several variables which were ameliorated by other insulin receptor sensitizers in mice. Pre-treatment with DS of chronically stressed C57BL6 mice rescued normal contextual fear conditioning, hippocampal gene expression of NMDA receptor subunit NR2A, the NR2A/NR2B ratio and increased REM sleep rebound after acute predation. In 18-month-old C57BL6 mice, a model of elderly depression, DS restored normal sucrose preference and activated the expression of neural plasticity factors in the hippocampus as shown by Illumina microarray. Finally, young naive DS-treated C57BL6 mice had reduced depressive- and anxiety-like behaviors and, similarly to imipramine-treated mice, preserved hippocampal levels of the phosphorylated (inactive) form of GSK3 beta that was lowered by forced swimming in pharmacologically naive animals. Thus, DS can ameliorate behavioral and molecular outcomes under a variety of stress- and depression-related conditions. This further highlights neuronal insulin signaling as a new factor of pathogenesis and a potential pharmacotherapy of affective pathologies. KW - phosphorylated glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (pGSK-3beta) KW - hippocampal plasticity KW - sleep EEG KW - aging KW - NMDA receptor subunits NR2A and NR2B KW - dicholine succinate KW - insulin receptor KW - chronic stress Y1 - 2015 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-143992 VL - 9 IS - 37 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Juhasz, Gabriella A1 - Gonda, Xenia A1 - Hullam, Gabor A1 - Eszlari, Nora A1 - Kovacs, David A1 - Lazary, Judit A1 - Pap, Dorottya A1 - Petschner, Peter A1 - Elliott, Rebecca A1 - Deakin, John Francis William A1 - Muir Anderson, Ian A1 - Antal, Peter A1 - Lesch, Klaus-Peter A1 - Bagdy, Gyorgy T1 - Variability in the effect of 5-HTTLPR on depression in a large European population: the role of age, symptom profile, type and intensity of life stressors JF - PLoS ONE N2 - Background Although 5-HTTLPR has been shown to influence the risk of life stress-induced depression in the majority of studies, others have produced contradictory results, possibly due to weak effects and/or sample heterogeneity. Methods In the present study we investigated how age, type and intensity of life-stressors modulate the effect of 5-HTTLPR on depression and anxiety in a European population cohort of over 2300 subjects. Recent negative life events (RLE), childhood adversity (CHA), lifetime depression, Brief Symptoms Inventory (BSI) depression and anxiety scores were determined in each subject. Besides traditional statistical analysis we calculated Bayesian effect strength and relevance of 5-HTTLPR genotypes in specified models. Results The short (s) low expressing allele showed association with increased risk of depression related phenotypes, but all nominally significant effects would turn to non-significant after correction for multiple testing in the traditional analysis. Bayesian effect strength and relevance analysis, however, confirmed the role of 5-HTTLPR. Regarding current (BSI) and lifetime depression 5-HTTLPR-by-RLE interactions were confirmed. Main effect, with other words direct association, was supported with BSI anxiety. With more frequent RLE the prevalence or symptoms of depression increased in ss carriers. Although CHA failed to show an interaction with 5-HTTLPR, in young subjects CHA sensitized towards the depression promoting effect of even mild RLE. Furthermore, the direct association of anxiety with the s allele was driven by young (\(\leq\)30) individuals. Limitations Our study is cross-sectional and applies self-report questionnaires. Conclusions Albeit 5-HTTLPR has only weak/moderate effects, the s allele is directly associated with anxiety and modulates development of depression in homogeneous subgroups. KW - serotonin transporter gene KW - environment interaction KW - polymorphism KW - events KW - moderation KW - CB1 receptor antagonists KW - s allele KW - association KW - anxiety KW - metaanalysis Y1 - 2015 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-143703 VL - 10 IS - 3 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Bodden, Carina A1 - Richter, S. Helene A1 - Schreiber, Rebecca S. A1 - Kloke, Vanessa A1 - Gerß, Joachim A1 - Palme, Rupert A1 - Lesch, Klaus-Peter A1 - Lewejohann, Lars A1 - Kaiser, Sylvia A1 - Sachser, Norbert T1 - Benefits of adversity?! How life history affects the behavioral profile of mice varying in serotonin transporter genotype JF - Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience N2 - Behavioral profiles are influenced by both positive and negative experiences as well as the genetic disposition. Traditionally, accumulating adversity over lifetime is considered to predict increased anxiety like behavior ("allostatic load"). The alternative "mismatch hypothesis" suggests increased levels of anxiety if the early environment differs from the later-life environment. Thus, there is a need for a whole-life history approach to gain a deeper understanding of how behavioral profiles are shaped. The aim of this study was to elucidate the effects of life history on the behavioral profile of mice varying in serotonin transporter (5-HIT) genotype, an established mouse model of increased anxiety-like behavior. For this purpose, mice grew up under either adverse or beneficial conditions during early phases of life. In adulthood, they were further subdivided so as to face a situation that either matched or mismatched the condition experienced so far, resulting in four different life histories. Subsequently, mice were tested for their anxiety-like and exploratory behavior. The main results were: (1) Life history profoundly modulated the behavioral profile. Surprisingly, mice that experienced early beneficial and later escapable adverse conditions showed less anxiety-like and more exploratory behavior compared to mice of other life histories. (2) Genotype significantly influenced the behavioral profile, with homozygous 5-HTT knockout mice displaying highest levels of anxiety-like and lowest levels of exploratory behavior. Our findings concerning life history indicate that the absence of adversity does not necessarily cause lower levels of anxiety than accumulating adversity. Rather, some adversity may be beneficial, particularly when following positive events. Altogether, we conclude that for an understanding of behavioral profiles, it is not sufficient to look at experiences during single phases of life, but the whole life history has to be considered. KW - anxiety-like behavior KW - maternal care KW - dangerous world KW - animal behavior KW - match-mismatch KW - chronic social stress KW - elevated plus-maze KW - 5-HTT KW - life history KW - predictive adaptive response hypothesis KW - developmental plasticity KW - knockout mice KW - environmental enrichment KW - allostatic load Y1 - 2015 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-143723 VL - 9 IS - 47 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Frey, Anna A1 - Popp, Sandy A1 - Post, Antonia A1 - Langer, Simon A1 - Lehmann, Marc A1 - Hofmann, Ulrich A1 - Siren, Anna-Leena A1 - Hommers, Leif A1 - Schmitt, Angelika A1 - Strekalova, Tatyana A1 - Ertl, Georg A1 - Lesch, Klaus-Peter A1 - Frantz, Stefan T1 - Experimental heart failure causes depression-like behavior together with differential regulation of inflammatory and structural genes in the brain JF - Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience N2 - Background: Depression and anxiety are common and independent outcome predictors in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). However, it is unclear whether CHF causes depression. Thus, we investigated whether mice develop anxiety- and depression-like behavior after induction of ischemic CHF by myocardial infarction (MI). Methods and Results: In order to assess depression-like behavior, anhedonia was investigated by repeatedly testing sucrose preference for 8 weeks after coronary artery ligation or sham operation. Mice with large MI and increased left ventricular dimensions on echocardiography (termed CHF mice) showed reduced preference for sucrose, indicating depression-like behavior. 6 weeks after MI, mice were tested for exploratory activity, anxiety-like behavior and cognitive function using the elevated plus maze (EPM), light-dark box (LDB), open field (OF), and object recognition (OR) tests. In the EPM and OF, CHF mice exhibited diminished exploratory behavior and motivation despite similar movement capability. In the OR, CHF mice had reduced preference for novelty and impaired short-term memory. On histology, CHF mice had unaltered overall cerebral morphology. However, analysis of gene expression by RNA-sequencing in prefrontal cortical, hippocampal, and left ventricular tissue revealed changes in genes related to inflammation and cofactors of neuronal signal transduction in CHF mice, with Nr4a1 being dysregulated both in prefrontal cortex and myocardium after MI. Conclusions: After induction of ischemic CHF, mice exhibited anhedonic behavior, decreased exploratory activity and interest in novelty, and cognitive impairment. Thus, ischemic CHF leads to distinct behavioral changes in mice analogous to symptoms observed in humans with CHF and comorbid depression. KW - chronic heart failure KW - myocardial infarction KW - anxiety KW - depression KW - mice Y1 - 2014 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-118234 SN - 1662-5153 VL - 8 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kloke, Vanessa A1 - Schreiber, Rebecca S. A1 - Bodden, Carina A1 - Möllers, Julian A1 - Ruhmann, Hanna A1 - Kaiser, Sylvia A1 - Lesch, Klaus-Peter A1 - Sachser, Norbert A1 - Lewejohann, Lars T1 - Hope for the Best or Prepare for the Worst? Towards a Spatial Cognitive Bias Test for Mice JF - PLOS ONE N2 - Cognitive bias, the altered information processing resulting from the background emotional state of an individual, has been suggested as a promising new indicator of animal emotion. Comparable to anxious or depressed humans, animals in a putatively negative emotional state are more likely to judge an ambiguous stimulus as if it predicts a negative event, than those in positive states. The present study aimed to establish a cognitive bias test for mice based on a spatial judgment task and to apply it in a pilot study to serotonin transporter (5-HTT) knockout mice, a well-established mouse model for the study of anxiety- and depression-related behavior. In a first step, we validated that our setup can assess different expectations about the outcome of an ambiguous stimulus: mice having learned to expect something positive within a maze differed significantly in their behavior towards an unfamiliar location than animals having learned to expect something negative. In a second step, the use of spatial location as a discriminatory stimulus was confirmed by showing that mice interpret an ambiguous stimulus depending on its spatial location, with a position exactly midway between a positive and a negative reference point provoking the highest level of ambiguity. Finally, the anxiety- and depression-like phenotype of the 5-HTT knockout mouse model manifested - comparable to human conditions - in a trend for a negatively distorted interpretation of ambiguous information, albeit this effect was not statistically significant. The results suggest that the present cognitive bias test provides a useful basis to study the emotional state in mice, which may not only increase the translational value of animal models in the study of human affective disorders, but which is also a central objective of animal welfare research. KW - emotional information KW - serotonin transporter gene KW - attentional bias KW - laboratory environment KW - animal behavior KW - promoter region KW - deficient mice KW - affective state KW - knockout mice KW - judgement bias Y1 - 2014 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-115569 VL - 9 IS - 8 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Spinelli, Simona A1 - Müller, Tanja A1 - Friedel, Miriam A1 - Sigrist, Hannes A1 - Lesch, Klaus-Peter A1 - Henkelman, Mark A1 - Rudin, Markus A1 - Seifritz, Erich A1 - Pryce, Christopher R. T1 - Effects of repeated adolescent stress and serotonin transporter gene partial knockout in mice on behaviors and brain structures relevant to major depression JF - Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience N2 - In humans, exposure to stress during development is associated with structural and functional alterations of the prefrontal cortex (PFC), amygdala (AMY), and hippocampus (HC) and their circuits of connectivity, and with an increased risk for developing major depressive disorder particularly in carriers of the short (s) variant of the serotonin transporter (5-HTT) gene-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR). Although changes in these regions are found in carriers of the s allele and/or in depressed patients, evidence for a specific genotype x developmental stress effect on brain structure and function is limited. Here, we investigated the effect of repeated stress exposure during adolescence in mice with partial knockout of the 5-HIT gene (HET) vs. wildtype (WT) on early-adulthood behavioral measures and brain structure [using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)] relevant to human major depression. Behaviorally, adolescent stress (AS) increased anxiety and decreased activity and did so to a similar degree in HET and WT. In a probabilistic reversal learning task, HET-AS mice achieved fewer reversals than did HET-No-AS mice. 5-HIT genotype and AS were without effect on corticosterone stress response. In terms of structural brain differences, AS reduced the volume of two long-range white matter tracts, the optic tract (OT) and the cerebral peduncle (CP), in WT mice specifically. In a region-of-interest analysis, AS was associated with increased HC volume and HET genotype with a decreased frontal lobe volume. In conclusion, we found that 5-HIT and AS genotype exerted long-term effects on behavior and development of brain regions relevant to human depression. KW - mouse-brain KW - white-matter integrity KW - linked polymorphic region KW - C57BL/6 mice KW - lerned helplessness KW - 5-HTTLPR polymorphism KW - childhood maltreatment KW - rhesus macaques KW - 3-dimensional MRI KW - life stress Y1 - 2013 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-122240 VL - 7 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schartl, Manfred A1 - Walter, Ronald B. A1 - Shen, Yingjia A1 - Garcia, Tzintzuni A1 - Catchen, Julian A1 - Amores, Angel A1 - Braasch, Ingo A1 - Chalopin, Domitille A1 - Volff, Jean-Nicolas A1 - Lesch, Klaus-Peter A1 - Bisazza, Angelo A1 - Minx, Pat A1 - Hillier, LaDeana A1 - Wilson, Richard K. A1 - Fürstenberg, Susan A1 - Boore, Jeffrey A1 - Searle, Steve A1 - Postlethwait, John H. A1 - Warren, Wesley C. T1 - The genome of the platyfish, Xiphophorus maculatus, provides insights into evolutionary adaptation and several complex traits JF - Nature Genetics N2 - Several attributes intuitively considered to be typical mammalian features, such as complex behavior, live birth and malignant disease such as cancer, also appeared several times independently in lower vertebrates. The genetic mechanisms underlying the evolution of these elaborate traits are poorly understood. The platyfish, X. maculatus, offers a unique model to better understand the molecular biology of such traits. We report here the sequencing of the platyfish genome. Integrating genome assembly with extensive genetic maps identified an unexpected evolutionary stability of chromosomes in fish, in contrast to in mammals. Genes associated with viviparity show signatures of positive selection, identifying new putative functional domains and rare cases of parallel evolution. We also find that genes implicated in cognition show an unexpectedly high rate of duplicate gene retention after the teleost genome duplication event, suggesting a hypothesis for the evolution of the behavioral complexity in fish, which exceeds that found in amphibians and reptiles. KW - genomics KW - genomic analysis KW - evolutionary biology Y1 - 2013 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-132152 VL - 45 IS - 5 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Hohoff, Christa A1 - Gorji, Ali A1 - Kaiser, Sylvia A1 - Willscher, Edith A1 - Korsching, Eberhard A1 - Ambrée, Oliver A1 - Arolt, Volker A1 - Lesch, Klaus-Peter A1 - Sachser, Norbert A1 - Deckert, Jürgen A1 - Lewejohann, Lars T1 - Effect of Acute Stressor and Serotonin Transporter Genotype on Amygdala First Wave Transcriptome in Mice JF - PLoS ONE N2 - The most prominent brain region evaluating the significance of external stimuli immediately after their onset is the amygdala. Stimuli evaluated as being stressful actuate a number of physiological processes as an immediate stress response. Variation in the serotonin transporter gene has been associated with increased anxiety- and depression-like behavior, altered stress reactivity and adaptation, and pathophysiology of stress-related disorders. In this study the instant reactions to an acute stressor were measured in a serotonin transporter knockout mouse model. Mice lacking the serotonin transporter were verified to be more anxious than their wild-type conspecifics. Genome-wide gene expression changes in the amygdala were measured after the mice were subjected to control condition or to an acute stressor of one minute exposure to water. The dissection of amygdalae and stabilization of RNA was conducted within nine minutes after the onset of the stressor. This extremely short protocol allowed for analysis of first wave primary response genes, typically induced within five to ten minutes of stimulation, and was performed using Affymetrix GeneChip Mouse Gene 1.0 ST Arrays. RNA profiling revealed a largely new set of differentially expressed primary response genes between the conditions acute stress and control that differed distinctly between wild-type and knockout mice. Consequently, functional categorization and pathway analysis indicated genes related to neuroplasticity and adaptation in wild-types whereas knockouts were characterized by impaired plasticity and genes more related to chronic stress and pathophysiology. Our study therefore disclosed different coping styles dependent on serotonin transporter genotype even directly after the onset of stress and accentuates the role of the serotonergic system in processing stressors and threat in the amygdala. Moreover, several of the first wave primary response genes that we found might provide promising targets for future therapeutic interventions of stress-related disorders also in humans. KW - plasticity KW - corticotropin releasing factor KW - primary response genes KW - spatial memory KW - knockout mice KW - rat brain KW - in vivo KW - expression KW - anxiety KW - emotion Y1 - 2013 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-131040 VL - 8 IS - 3 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Karabeg, Margherita M. A1 - Grauthoff, Sandra A1 - Kollert, Sina Y. A1 - Weidner, Magdalena A1 - Heiming, Rebecca S. A1 - Jansen, Friederike A1 - Popp, Sandy A1 - Kaiser, Sylvia A1 - Lesch, Klaus-Peter A1 - Sachser, Norbert A1 - Schmitt, Angelika G. A1 - Lewejohann, Lars T1 - 5-HTT Deficiency Affects Neuroplasticity and Increases Stress Sensitivity Resulting in Altered Spatial Learning Performance in the Morris Water Maze but Not in the Barnes Maze JF - PLoS ONE N2 - The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether spatial hippocampus-dependent learning is affected by the serotonergic system and stress. Therefore, 5-HTT knockout (-/-), heterozygous (+/-) and wildtype (+/+) mice were subjected to the Barnes maze (BM) and the Morris water maze (WM), the latter being discussed as more aversive. Additionally, immediate early gene (IEG) expression, hippocampal adult neurogenesis (aN), and blood plasma corticosterone were analyzed. While the performance of 5-HTT-/- mice in the BM was undistinguishable from both other genotypes, they performed worse in the WM. However, in the course of the repeated WM trials 5-HTT-/- mice advanced to wildtype level. The experience of a single trial of either the WM or the BM resulted in increased plasma corticosterone levels in all genotypes. After several trials 5-HTT-/- mice exhibited higher corticosterone concentrations compared with both other genotypes in both tests. Corticosterone levels were highest in 5-HTT-/- mice tested in the WM indicating greater aversiveness of the WM and a greater stress sensitivity of 5-HTT deficient mice. Quantitative immunohistochemistry in the hippocampus revealed increased cell counts positive for the IEG products cFos and Arc as well as for proliferation marker Ki67 and immature neuron marker NeuroD in 5-HTT-/- mice compared to 5-HTT+/+ mice, irrespective of the test. Most differences were found in the suprapyramidal blade of the dentate gyrus of the septal hippocampus. Ki67-immunohistochemistry revealed a genotype x environment interaction with 5-HTT genotype differences in naïve controls and WM experience exclusively yielding more Ki67-positive cells in 5-HTT+/+ mice. Moreover, in 5-HTT-/- mice we demonstrate that learning performance correlates with the extent of aN. Overall, higher baseline IEG expression and increased an in the hippocampus of 5-HTT-/- mice together with increased stress sensitivity may constitute the neurobiological correlate of raised alertness, possibly impeding optimal learning performance in the more stressful WM. KW - immediate early genes KW - learning curves KW - animal performance KW - animal behavior KW - serotonin KW - learning KW - mice KW - hippocampus Y1 - 2013 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-129978 VL - 8 IS - 10 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Araragi, Naozumi A1 - Mlinar, Boris A1 - Baccini, Gilda A1 - Gutknecht, Lise A1 - Lesch, Klaus-Peter A1 - Corradetti, Renato T1 - Conservation of 5-HT1A receptor-mediated autoinhibition of serotonin (5-HT) neurons in mice with altered 5-HT homeostasis JF - Frontiers in Neuropharmacology N2 - Firing activity of serotonin (5-HT) neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) is controlled by inhibitory somatodendritic 5-HT1A autoreceptors. This autoinhibitory mechanism is implicated in the etiology of disorders of emotion regulation, such as anxiety disorders and depression, as well as in the mechanism of antidepressant action. Here, we investigated how persistent alterations in brain 5-HT availability affect autoinhibition in two genetically modified mouse models lacking critical mediators of serotonergic transmission: 5-HT transporter knockout (Sert-/-) and tryptophan hydroxylase-2 knockout (Tph2-/-) mice. The degree of autoinhibition was assessed by loose-seal cell-attached recording in DRN slices. First, application of the 5-HT1A-selective agonist R(+)-8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin showed mild sensitization and marked desensitization of 5-HT1A receptors in Tph2-/- mice and Sert-/- mice, respectively. While 5-HT neurons from Tph2-/- mice did not display autoinhibition in response to L-tryptophan, autoinhibition of these neurons was unaltered in Sert-/- mice despite marked desensitization of their 5-HT1A autoreceptors. When the Tph2-dependent 5-HT synthesis step was bypassed by application of 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan (5-HTP), neurons from both Tph2-/- and Sert-/- mice decreased their firing rates at significantly lower concentrations of 5-HTP compared to wildtype controls. Our findings demonstrate that, as opposed to the prevalent view, sensitivity of somatodendritic 5-HT1A receptors does not predict the magnitude of 5-HT neuron autoinhibition. Changes in 5-HT1A receptor sensitivity may rather be seen as an adaptive mechanism to keep autoinhibition functioning in response to extremely altered levels of extracellular 5-HT resulting from targeted inactivation of mediators of serotonergic signaling. KW - serotonin transporter KW - tryptophan hydroxylase-2 KW - knockout KW - dorsal raphe nucleus KW - autoinhibition KW - 5-HT1A receptor Y1 - 2013 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-97098 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Conzelmann, Annette A1 - Reif, Andreas A1 - Jacob, Christian A1 - Weyers, Peter A1 - Lesch, Klaus-Peter A1 - Lutz, Beat A1 - Pauli, Paul T1 - A polymorphism in the gene of the endocannabinoid-degrading enzyme FAAH (FAAH C385A) is associated with emotional-motivational reactivity JF - Psychopharmacology N2 - RATIONALE: The endocannabinoid (eCB) system is implicated in several psychiatric disorders. Investigating emotional-motivational dysfunctions as underlying mechanisms, a study in humans revealed that in the C385A polymorphism of the fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), the degrading enzyme of the eCB anandamide (AEA), A carriers, who are characterized by increased signaling of AEA as compared to C/C carriers, exhibited reduced brain reactivity towards unpleasant faces and enhanced reactivity towards reward. However, the association of eCB system with emotional-motivational reactivity is complex and bidirectional due to upcoming compensatory processes. OBJECTIVES: Therefore, we further investigated the relationship of the FAAH polymorphism and emotional-motivational reactivity in humans. METHODS: We assessed the affect-modulated startle, and ratings of valence and arousal in response to higher arousing pleasant, neutral, and unpleasant pictures in 67 FAAH C385A C/C carriers and 45 A carriers. RESULTS: Contrarily to the previous functional MRI study, A carriers compared to C/C carriers exhibited an increased startle potentiation and therefore emotional responsiveness towards unpleasant picture stimuli and reduced startle inhibition indicating reduced emotional reactivity in response to pleasant pictures, while both groups did not differ in ratings of arousal and valence. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings emphasize the bidirectionality and thorough examination of the eCB system's impact on emotional reactivity as a central endophenotype underlying various psychiatric disorders. KW - startle reflex KW - endocannabinoid KW - FAAH KW - genetics KW - emotion Y1 - 2012 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-126845 VL - 224 IS - 4 ER -