Gilles Fillion

Expression of interleukin 1α, interleukin 1β and interleukin 1 receptor antagonist mRNA in mouse brain: regulation by bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation is known to induce interleukin-1 (IL-1) mRNA expression in various immune cell types. Since IL-1 synthesis has been suggested to occur locally in brain tissue, we investigated the expression of IL-1 (alpha and beta) and IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) mRNAs in various structures of the central nervous system, as well as in the spleen, following intraperitoneal injection of LPS (100 micrograms/mouse). After RNA extraction and amplification by the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), the PCR products were separated on an agarose gel, transferred and hybridized with digoxigenin-labeled probes synthetized by nested PCR. Glyceraldehyde phosphate deshydrogenase mRNA was used as an internal control. Under basal conditions the expression of IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta and IL-1ra mRNAs in the brain was extremely low for the three cytokines; in the spleen these mRNAs were clearly detectable. Following LPS stimulation, mRNAs were strongly increased in all the tested tissues (cortex, hippocampus, hypothalamus, cerebellum, pituitary and spleen). The kinetics of mRNAs expressions in the brain were similar for all the tested regions, with a maximum at 6 h and a decrease up to 24 h after LPS administration. In the spleen the maximum was observed as soon as 1 h following stimulation. In conclusion, peripheral LPS stimulation induces a strong and transient expression of IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta mRNAs in the brain. IL-1ra mRNA is also stimulated by LPS in various regions of the brain.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Serotonin Inhibits Acetylcholine Release from Rat Striatum Slices: Evidence for a Presynaptic Receptor‐Mediated Effect

Abstract: Rat brain striatum slices were incubated with [3H]choline, perfused with a physiological buffer, and stimulated by perfusion with a K+‐enriched buffer for 2 min. The tritium overflow evoked by K+ was decreased by 5‐hydroxytrytamine (serotonin, 5‐HT) (maximal inhibition 10–6M). This effect of 5‐HT was mimicked by several agonists (5‐methoxytryptamine, N,N‐dimethyltryptamine, bufotenin) and blocked by serotonergic antagonists (methiothepin, methysergide, cinanserin) but not by haloperidol; methiothepin and methysergide alone slightly increased the K+‐evoked overflow of tritium (3H). Inhibition of the tritium release by 5‐HT was not suppressed in the presence of tetrodotoxin (TTX) (10–6M) These results suggest that 5‐HT tonically inhibits acetylcholine (ACh) release from striatal cholinergic neurons by acting on a presynaptic receptor localized on cholinergic terminals.

Isolation and Characterization of an Endogenous Peptide from Rat Brain Interacting Specifically with the Serotonergic 1B Receptor Subtypes

The existence of endogenous compounds interacting with the serotonergic system was previously postulated. In the present work, rat brain tissues were extracted by acidic and organic procedures. The resulting extract was tested for its capacity to interact with the binding of [3H]5-hydroxytryptamine ([3H]5-HT) to 5-HT1 receptors. Compounds responsible for the observed inhibitory activities were isolated and purified by high pressure liquid chromatography. A tetrapeptide corresponding to a novel amino acid sequence Leu-Ser-Ala-Leu (LSAL) was identified. It reduces the binding of [3H]5-HT to 5-HT1 receptors at low concentration (IC50 = 10−10M). This effect corresponds to a specific interaction at 5-HT1B receptors since LSAL does not significantly affect other neurotransmitter bindings. LSAL appears heterogeneously distributed throughout the brain (hippocampus > cerebellum > striatum > brain stem) and in peripheral tissues (kidney > lung > stomach > blood > liver > spleen). Two other peptides, Leu-Ser (LS) and Ala-Leu (AL), were also purified. They hardly affected [3H]5-HT binding compared with LSAL. They presumably represent degradation products of the functional peptide LSAL. The fact that LSAL interacts specifically with 5-HT1B receptors that inhibit the release of neurotransmitters and particularly that of 5-HT itself suggests that this peptide may be involved in mechanisms controlling 5-HT neurotransmission and, accordingly, may play an important role in pathophysiological functions related to 5-HT activity.

Effects of stress on the functional properties of pre- and postsynaptic 5-HT1B receptors in the rat brain

Numerous studies have clearly shown that the turnover and release of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) are increased under acute stressful conditions. Inasmuch as this latter process is under the control of a feedback mechanism involving the stimulation of presynaptic 5-HT1B autoreceptors, we have investigated the possible effects of acute restraint (40 min) on the functional properties of 5-HT1B receptors. The efficacy of the selective 5-HT1B receptor agonist 3-[1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyrid-4-yl]pyrrolo-[3,2-b]pyrid-5-one (CP-93,129) in inhibiting in vitro the K+-evoked release of [3H]5-HT, was significantly reduced in stressed rats as compared to naive animals. Similarly, the responsiveness of 5-HT1B receptors inhibiting the release of [3H]acetylcholine (presynaptic 5-HT1B heteroreceptors), was reduced by restraint. These effects were observed in the hippocampus, but using the inhibitory effect of CP-93,129 on forskolin-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity as an index of 5-HT1B receptor function, it could be shown that the 5-HT1B receptors located in the substantia nigra are also desensitized by stress. The number as well as the apparent affinity constant of 5-HT1B binding sites labelled by [125I]iodocyanopindolol, as measured by quantitative autoradiography and membrane binding, were similar in naive and restraint-stressed rats suggesting that the stress-induced desensitization of 5-HT1B receptors is not due to a reduced number of 5-HT1B binding sites. As stress is thought to be a causal factor for the etiology of anxiety and depression, these results support the potential involvement of 5-HT1B receptor dysfunction in the development of these neurological disorders.

5-hydroxytryptamine binding to synaptic membranes from rat brain

Abstract The 3 H-5HT binding capacity of rat brain synaptic membranes prepared by density gradient centrifugation has been investigated using a rapid ultrafiltration technique. A saturable, high affinity (K D = 1.10 −9 M), 5HT displaceable binding has been found. It is thermosensitive, temperature dependent and pH dependent. 5HT and related tryptamines are the most effective displacers of bound 3 H-5HT, whereas compounds which are not structurally related to 5HT (chlorpromazine, imipramine, cyproheptadine and cinanserine) and other neuro-transmitters (noradrenalin, dopamine) are ineffective. The distribution of 5HT-specific binding sites in the brain is related to serotonergic input. We conclude that these 5HT binding sites might possibly represent 5HT receptor sites.

5-HT1B receptors modulate release of [3H]dopamine from rat striatal synaptosomes

The effect of the selective r5-HT1B agonist 3-(1,2,5,6-tetrahydro)-4-pyridil-5-pyrrolo [3,2-b] pyril-5-one (CP93,129) on the K+-evoked overflow of [3H]dopamine was studied in rat striatal synaptosomes loaded with [3H]dopamine. The aim of the study was to investigate the participation of 5-HT1B receptors in the serotonergic modulation of striatal dopaminergic transmission. The Ca2+-dependent, tetrodotoxin-resistant K+-evoked overflow of [3H]dopamine was inhibited by CP93,129 (0.01–100 µM) in a concentration-dependent manner (IC50=1.8 µM; maximal inhibition by 35.5% of control). [±]8-OH-DPAT, a 5-HT1A receptor agonist, [+/–]DOI, a 5-HT2 receptor agonist, and 2-methyl-5-hydroxytryptamine, a 5-HT3 receptor agonist, at concentrations ranging from 0.01 µM to 100 µM did not show any significant effect. Neither ketanserin (1 µM and 5 µM), a selective 5-HT2/5-HT1D receptor antagonist, nor ondansetron (1 µM), a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, changed the inhibitory effect of CP93,129. SB224289, GR55562, GR127935, isamoltane and metergoline, selective and non-selective 5-HT1B receptor antagonists, in contrast, used at a concentration of 1 µM, antagonized the inhibitory effect of CP93,129 (3 µM and 10 µM). SB224289, a selective 5-HT1B receptor antagonist, inhibited the effect of CP93,129 in a concentration-dependent manner; the calculated Ki value was 1.8 nM. Our results indicate that in rat striatal axon terminals the K+-evoked release of dopamine is regulated by the presynaptic 5-HT1B heteroreceptors.

Regulation of interleukin-1 receptor expression in mouse brain and pituitary by lipopolysaccharide and glucocorticoids.

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) receptors have been characterized in mouse pituitary and brain. Previous studies have demonstrated that IL-1 receptor density is high in the dentate gyrus in the hippocampus and that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection caused an 80% decrease in the number of hippocampal IL-1 receptors, while pituitary receptors in the anterior pituitary were unaffected. In order to investigate on the role of glucocorticoids (GC) in the control of IL-1 receptor expression in the brain and pituitary, the effect of stress, exogenous GC administration or adrenalectomy (ADX) on IL-1 receptor density was determined. Assays were achieved under basal and LPS-stimulated conditions by in situ quantitative autoradiography technique using human recombinant 125I-IL-1 alpha as a tracer. An increase of GC concentration in serum, following immobilization stress or dexamethasone (DEX) treatment (short and long term), did not modify, in the hippocampus, the density of IL-1 receptors under basal conditions or after peripheral LPS injection. On the contrary, ADX significantly decreased IL-1 receptor density in LPS-treated animals. In the anterior pituitary, a significant increase in the density of basal IL-1 receptors was observed 6 h following immobilization stress or after 7 days of DEX treatment while short-term DEX treatments are ineffective. In contrast to what was observed in the hippocampus, no changes in pituitary receptor densities were observed in ADX mice. These results indicate that hippocampal and pituitary IL-1 receptor expressions are differentially regulated by GC. Therefore, this report constitutes the first demonstration of an in vivo regulation of IL-2 receptors in the pituitary.

Magnetic field desensitizes 5-HT1B receptor in brain: pharmacological and functional studies

It was previously suggested that exposure to magnetic fields (MFs) could generate dysfunction of the CNS. The physiological manifestations described lead us to postulate that these symptoms might be related to a dysfunction of the serotonergic system and particularly of the 5-HT(1B) receptors. Accordingly, MFs could modify the conformation of these receptors altering their functional activities. In rat brain membrane preparations, we showed that the affinity constant of 5-HT for 5-HT(1B) receptors was modified under exposure to MFs since K(d) varied from 4.7+/-0.5 to 12+/-3 nM in control and exposed (2.5 mT) membranes, respectively. This effect was intensity-dependent (the sigmoidal dose-response curve was characterized by an EI(50) of 662+/-69 microT and a maximal increase of 321+/-13% of the control K(d)), reversible, temperature-dependent and specific to the 5-HT(1B) receptors. Similar results have also been obtained with the human 5-HT(1B) receptors. In parallel assays, the functional activity of 5-HT(1B) receptors was investigated. The capacity of a 5-HT(1B) agonist to inhibit the cAMP production was reduced by 37% (53.7+/-3.5% to 33.7+/-4.1%) following exposure to MFs and the cellular activity of the receptors (inhibition of the synaptosomal release of 5-HT) also was markedly reduced (66.5+/-3.2% to 28.5+/-4.2%). These results clearly show that in in vitro assays, MF specifically interacts with 5-HT(1B) receptors, inducing structural changes of the protein that result in a functional desensitization of the receptors. Thus, in vivo, exposure to MFs may lead to physiological changes, particularly in the field of mood disorders where the 5-HT system is strongly involved.

Characterization and Distribution of Receptors for Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone in the Rat Hippocampus

Distribution and properties of receptors for gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) were analyzed in the brain of adult male rats. Binding of the iodinated GnRH agonist Des-Gly10-(D-Ala6)-GnRH ethylamide was studied in hippocampus and anterior pituitary using three convergent approaches: quantitative autoradiography on frozen tissue, binding to fresh slices, and binding to crude membrane preparations. In all cases, binding was specific, saturable, and time, pH, and temperature dependent. Quantitative autoradiography revealed that the density of binding sites was high in the stratum oriens and stratum radiatum of the CA1-CA4 regions of Ammons horn. The pyramidal cell layer was faintly labelled. Binding was almost undetectable in the dentate gyrus. The highest density of sites (Bmax = 11.6 +/- 1.0 fmol/mg protein) was observed in the stratum radiatum of the CA3 region. Under the same conditions the value obtained for pituitary tissues was 20.7 +/- 2.8 fmol/mg protein. Analysis of saturation curves indicated only one class of high-affinity sites for the hippocampus (CA3; Kd = 0.28 +/- 0.03 nM) and for the pituitary (Kd = 0.29 +/- 0.08 nM). Both native GnRH and GnRH antagonist were potent competitors of binding. Fresh slices and membrane preparations from whole hippocampus confirmed these autoradiographic data and yielded affinity constants of 0.28 +/- 0.01 and 0.52 +/- 0.08 nM, respectively. In addition, a very high binding density was present in the amygdaloid complex, while binding was barely detectable in the hypothalamus. These results demonstrate that high densities of specific GnRH receptors are present in areas concerned with the regulation of behavioral functions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

5-HT1B Receptors: A Novel Target for Lithium: Possible Involvement in Mood Disorders

Lithium ion is widely used to treat depressive patients, often as an initial helper for antidepressant drugs or as a mood stabilizer; however, the toxicity of the drug raises serious problems, because the toxic doses of lithium are quite close to the therapeutic ones. Thus, precise characterization of the target(s) involved in the therapeutic activity of lithium is of importance. The present work, carried out at molecular, cellular, and in vivo levels, demonstrates that 5-HT1B receptor constitutes a molecular target for lithium. Several reasons suggest that this interaction is more likely related to the therapeutic properties of lithium than to its undesirable effects. First, the observed biochemical and functional interaction occurs at concentrations that precisely correspond to effective therapeutic doses of lithium. Second, 5-HT1B receptors are well characterized as controlling the activity of the serotonergic system, which is known to be involved in affective disorders and the mechanism of action of various antidepressants. These findings represent progress in our knowledge of the mechanism of action of lithium that may facilitate clinical use of the ion and also open new directions in the research of antidepressant therapies.