Songhua Fan

Metabolomic identification of molecular changes associated with stress resilience in the chronic mild stress rat model of depression

Chronic stressful events are key risk factors for major depressive disorder (MDD), yet some individuals exposed to stressful events do not develop MDD. This disparity suggests the significance of resilience to deleterious stress effects. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of stress resilience are poorly understood. In the present study, the chronic mild stress (CMS) rat model of depression was used to reveal the individual differences in stress response. Employing a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry metabolomic approach, the molecular changes associated with stress resilience in rat cerebellum were characterized by comparing anhedonic, CMS resilient and control groups. The results showed that four cerebellar metabolites—proline, lysine, glutamine, and dihydroxyacetone phosphate—were identified as the key differential metabolites associated with stress resilience. These metabolites may play a potential role in rendering individuals less vulnerable to CMS exposure. These findings provide insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying stress resilience and shed light on novel therapeutic opportunities to augment stress resiliency.

Combined Application of NMR- and GC-MS-Based Metabonomics Yields a Superior Urinary Biomarker Panel for Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a debilitating mental disorder that cannot be diagnosed by objective laboratory-based modalities. Our previous studies have independently used nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)-based metabonomic methods to characterize the urinary metabolic profiles of BD subjects and healthy controls (HC). However, the combined application of NMR spectroscopy and GC-MS may identify a more comprehensive metabolite panel than any single metabonomic platform alone. Therefore, here we applied a dual platform (NMR spectroscopy and GC-MS) that generated a panel of five metabolite biomarkers for BD-four GC-MS-derived metabolites and one NMR-derived metabolite. This composite biomarker panel could effectively discriminate BD subjects from HC, achieving an area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) values of 0.974 in a training set and 0.964 in a test set. Moreover, the diagnostic performance of this panel was significantly superior to the previous single platform-derived metabolite panels. Thus, the urinary biomarker panel identified here shows promise as an effective diagnostic tool for BD. These findings also demonstrate the complementary nature of NMR spectroscopy and GC-MS for metabonomic analysis, suggesting that the combination of NMR spectroscopy and GC-MS can identify a more comprehensive metabolite panel than applying each platform in isolation.

Amino acid metabolic dysfunction revealed in the prefrontal cortex of a rat model of depression

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a debilitating mood disorder. However, the molecular mechanism(s) underlying depression remain largely unknown. Here, we applied a GC-MS-based metabonomic approach in the chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model, a well-established rodent model of depression, to investigate significant metabolic changes in the rat prefrontal cortex (PFC). Multivariate statistical analysis - including principal component analysis, partial least squares-discriminate analysis, and pair-wise orthogonal projections to latent structures discriminant - was applied to identify differential PFC metabolites between CUMS rats and healthy controls. As compared to healthy control rats, CUMS rats were characterized by lower levels of isoleucine and glycerol in combination with higher levels of N-acetylaspartate and β-alanine. These findings should provide insight into the pathophysiological mechanism(s) underlying MDD and preliminary leads relevant to diagnostic biomarker discovery for depression.

iTRAQ-based quantitative analysis of hippocampal postsynaptic density-associated proteins in a rat chronic mild stress model of depression.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a prevalent psychiatric mood illness and a major cause of disability and suicide worldwide. However, the underlying pathophysiology of MDD remains poorly understood due to its heterogenic nature. Extensive pre-clinical research suggests that many molecular alterations associated with MDD preferentially localize to the postsynaptic density (PSD). Here, we used a rodent chronic mild stress (CMS) model to generate susceptible and unsusceptible subpopulations. Proteomic analysis using an isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) and tandem mass spectrometry was performed to identify differentially expressed proteins in enriched PSD preparations from the hippocampi of different groups. More than 1500 proteins were identified and quantified, and 74 membrane proteins were differentially expressed. Of these membrane proteins, 51 (69%) were identified by SynaptomeDB search as having a predicted PSD localization. The unbiased profiles identified several PSD candidate proteins that may be related to CMS vulnerability or insusceptibility, and these two CMS phenotypes displayed differences in the abundance of several types of proteins. A detailed protein functional analysis pointed to a role for PSD-associated proteins involved in signaling and regulatory functions. Within the PSD, the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunit NR2A and its downstream targets contribute to CMS susceptibility. Further analysis of disease relevance indicated that the PSD contains a complex set of proteins of known relevance to mental illnesses including depression. In sum, these findings provide novel insights into the contribution of PSD-associated proteins to stress susceptibility and further advance our understanding of the role of hippocampal synaptic plasticity in MDD.

Meta-Analysis of Infectious Agents and Depression

Depression is a debilitating psychiatric disorder and a growing global public health issue. However, the relationships between microbial infections and depression remains uncertain. A computerized literature search of Medline, ISI Web of Knowledge, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Library was conducted up to May 2013, and 6362 studies were initially identified for screening. Case-control studies detected biomarker of microorganism were included. Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, 28 studies were finally included to compare the detection of 16 infectious agents in unipolar depressed patients and healthy controls with a positive incident being defined as a positive biochemical marker of microbial infection. A customized form was used for data extraction. Pooled analysis revealed that the majority of the 16 infectious agents were not significantly associated with depression. However, there were statistically significant associations between depression and infection with Borna disease virus, herpes simplex virus-1, varicella zoster virus, Epstein-Barr virus, and Chlamydophila trachomatis.

Quantitative Proteomic Analysis Reveals Molecular Adaptations in the Hippocampal Synaptic Active Zone of Chronic Mild Stress-Unsusceptible Rats

Background: While stressful events are recognized as an important cause of major depressive disorder, some individuals exposed to life stressors maintain normal psychological functioning. The molecular mechanism(s) underlying this phenomenon remain unclear. Abnormal transmission and plasticity of hippocampal synapses have been implied to play a key role in the pathoetiology of major depressive disorder. Methods: A chronic mild stress protocol was applied to separate susceptible and unsusceptible rat subpopulations. Proteomic analysis using an isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantitation coupled with tandem mass spectrometry was performed to identify differential proteins in enriched hippocampal synaptic junction preparations. Results: A total of 4318 proteins were quantified, and 89 membrane proteins were present in differential amounts. Of these, SynaptomeDB identified 81 (91%) having a synapse-specific localization. The unbiased profiles identified several candidate proteins within the synaptic junction that may be associated with stress vulnerability or insusceptibility. Subsequent functional categorization revealed that protein systems particularly involved in membrane trafficking at the synaptic active zone exhibited a positive strain as potential molecular adaptations in the unsusceptible rats. Moreover, through STRING and immunoblotting analysis, membrane-associated GTP-bound Rab3a and Munc18-1 appear to coregulate syntaxin-1/SNAP25/VAMP2 assembly at the hippocampal presynaptic active zone of unsusceptible rats, facilitating SNARE-mediated membrane fusion and neurotransmitter release, and may be part of a stress-protection mechanism in actively maintaining an emotional homeostasis. Conclusions: The present results support the concept that there is a range of potential protein adaptations in the hippocampal synaptic active zone of unsusceptible rats, revealing new investigative targets that may contribute to a better understanding of stress insusceptibility.

Comparative efficacy and acceptability of electroconvulsive therapy versus repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for major depression: A systematic review and multiple-treatments meta-analysis.

HighlightsECT was the most efficacious, but least tolerated.R‐rTMS was the best tolerated treatment for MDD.B‐rTMS appears to have the most favorable balance between efficacy and acceptability. Backgrounds: The effects of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and bilateral, left prefrontal, and right prefrontal repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on major depressive disorder (MDD) have not been adequately addressed by previous studies. Here, a multiple‐treatments meta‐analysis, which incorporates evidence from direct and indirect comparisons from a network of trials, was performed to assess the efficacy and acceptability of these four treatment modalities on MDD. Method: The literature was searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on ECT, bilateral rTMS, and unilateral rTMS for treating MDD up to May 2016. The main outcome measures were response and drop‐out rates. Results: Data were obtained from 25 studies consisting of 1288 individuals with MDD. ECT was non‐significantly more efficacious than B‐rTMS, R‐rTMS, and L‐rTMS. Left prefrontal rTMS was non −significantly less efficacious than all other treatment modalities. In terms of acceptability, R‐rTMS was non‐significantly better tolerated than ECT, B‐rTMS, and L‐rTMS. ECT was the most efficacious treatment with the cumulative probabilities of being the most efficacious treatment being: ECT (65%), B‐rTMS (25%), R‐rTMS (8%), and L‐rTMS (2%). R‐rTMS was the best‐tolerated treatment with the cumulative probabilities of being the best‐tolerated treatment being: R‐rTMS (52%), B‐rTMS (17%), L‐rTMS (16%), and ECT (14%). Coherence analysis detected no statistically significant incoherence in any comparisons of direct with indirect evidence for the response rate and drop‐out rate. Conclusions: ECT was the most efficacious, but least tolerated, treatment, while R‐rTMS was the best tolerated treatment for MDD. B‐rTMS appears to have the most favorable balance between efficacy and acceptability.

Metabolomic profiling of three brain regions from a postnatal infected Borna disease virus Hu-H1 rat model

Neonatal rat infection with Borna disease virus (BDV), termed neonatal Borna disease, is an established model for investigating the BDV-associated pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental abnormalities. BDV produces a persistent noncytolytic infection in all culture cell systems assayed to date, while persistent infection in neonatal rats results in a progressive loss of hippocampal granule cells, cerebellar Purkinje cells, and cortical GABA-ergic neurons. Persistent infection also results in behavioral deficits including hyperactivity, cognitive impairment, and abnormal social behavior. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the neuronal degeneration and behavioral abnormalities remain unclear. Using a metabolomic approach based on gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry in conjunction with statistical pattern recognition, the metabolic changes in response to BDV Hu-H1 infection were characterized in the rat hippocampus, cerebellum, and cortex. Metabonomic profiling revealed significant perturbations in nucleotide (e.g., adenosine, uracil, inosine, adenosine-5′-monophosphate, uridine-5′-monophosphate, d-ribose 5-phosphate, and sedoheptulose 7-phosphate), amino acid (e.g., lysine, glycine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, proline, serine, cysteine, aspartic acid, pyroglutamic acid, and γ-aminobutyric acid), lipid (e.g., cholesterol, myristic acid, stearic acid, palmitic acid, 1-monopalmitoylglycerol, and arachidonic acid), and energy (e.g., glucose, lactose, 3-phosphoglyceric acid, and pyruvic acid) metabolites. These metabolites participate in pathways crucial to viral proliferation and neurotransmitter homeostasis. This metabolomic profiling study provides insight into the pathogenic mechanisms of BDV and new directions with which to investigate the in vivo effects of persistent BDV infection.

Effects of gut microbiota on the microRNA and mRNA expression in the hippocampus of mice

Backgrounds Gut microbiota is increasingly recognized as an important environmental factor that could influence the brain function and behaviors through the microbiota‐gut‐brain axis. Method Here, we used the germ‐free (GF) mice to explore the effect of gut microbiota on hippocampal microRNA (miRNA) and messenger RNAs (mRNAs) expression. Results Behavioral tests showed that, compared to specific pathogen‐free (SPF) mice, the GF mice displayed more center time, center distance and less latency to familiar food. Colonization of the GF mice with gut microbiota from SPF mice did not reverse these behaviors. However, 7 differentially expressed miRNAs and 139 mRNAs were significantly restored. Through microRNA Target Filter analysis, 4 of 7 restored miRNAs had 2232 target mRNAs. Among these target mRNAs, 21 target mRNAs levels were decreased. Further analysis showed that the most significant GO terms were metabolic process (GO: 0008152), binding (GO: 0005488) and cell part (GO: 0044464) for biological process, molecular function and cellular component, respectively, and the most significantly altered pathway was axon guidance (mmu04360). Conclusions These findings indicated that colonization of gut microbiota to adolescent GF mice was not sufficient to reverse the behavioral alterations. Gut microbiota could significantly influence the expression levels of miRNAs and mRNAs in hippocampus. Our results could provide original and valuable data for researchers to further study the microbiota‐gut‐brain axis. Highlights7 miRNA in the hippocampus was related with gut microbiota.139 mRNA in the hippocampus was related with gut microbiota.4 miRNA and 21 target mRNAs resulted in 22 miRNA‐mRNA interactions.

Enhanced Detection of Low-Abundance Human Plasma Proteins by Integrating Polyethylene Glycol Fractionation and Immunoaffinity Depletion.

The enormous depth complexity of the human plasma proteome poses a significant challenge for current mass spectrometry-based proteomic technologies in terms of detecting low-level proteins in plasma, which is essential for successful biomarker discovery efforts. Typically, a single-step analytical approach cannot reduce this intrinsic complexity. Current simplex immunodepletion techniques offer limited capacity for detecting low-abundance proteins, and integrated strategies are thus desirable. In this respect, we developed an improved strategy for analyzing the human plasma proteome by integrating polyethylene glycol (PEG) fractionation with immunoaffinity depletion. PEG fractionation of plasma proteins is simple, rapid, efficient, and compatible with a downstream immunodepletion step. Compared with immunodepletion alone, our integrated strategy substantially improved the proteome coverage afforded by PEG fractionation. Coupling this new protocol with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, 135 proteins with reported normal concentrations below 100 ng/mL were confidently identified as common low-abundance proteins. A side-by-side comparison indicated that our integrated strategy was increased by average 43.0% in the identification rate of low-abundance proteins, relying on an average 65.8% increase of the corresponding unique peptides. Further investigation demonstrated that this combined strategy could effectively alleviate the signal-suppressive effects of the major high-abundance proteins by affinity depletion, especially with moderate-abundance proteins after incorporating PEG fractionation, thereby greatly enhancing the detection of low-abundance proteins. In sum, the newly developed strategy of incorporating PEG fractionation to immunodepletion methods can potentially aid in the discovery of plasma biomarkers of therapeutic and clinical interest.