Alexa Soares, PhD
she/her/hers
Postdoctoral AssociateAbout
Research
Publications
2025
Noradrenergic inputs to the basolateral amygdala have bidirectional effects on coping behavior and neuronal activity in mice
Soares A, Fai C, Mineur Y, Picciotto M. Noradrenergic inputs to the basolateral amygdala have bidirectional effects on coping behavior and neuronal activity in mice. Pharmacology Biochemistry And Behavior 2025, 258: 174130. PMID: 41242638, PMCID: PMC12812288, DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2025.174130.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBasolateral amygdalaNE signalingStress disorderLC activityCoping behaviorsLocus coeruleusAssociated with post-traumatic stress disorderBehavioral responses to stressBasolateral amygdala neuronal activityBehavioral responsesPost-traumatic stress disorderNeuronal activityMaladaptive behavioral responsesAcute behavioral responsesMouse basolateral amygdalaResponse to stressInescapable stressorFear conditioningDepressive disorderMood regulationBehavioral effectsCognitive/behavioral functionsCFos expressionAdaptive copingPassive copingSex differences in the microglial response to stress and chronic alcohol exposure in mice
Soares A, Garcia-Rivas V, Fai C, Thomas M, Zheng X, Picciotto M, Mineur Y. Sex differences in the microglial response to stress and chronic alcohol exposure in mice. Biology Of Sex Differences 2025, 16: 19. PMID: 40038827, PMCID: PMC11881309, DOI: 10.1186/s13293-025-00701-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsResponse to stressSex differencesAlcohol exposureStress-induced alcohol drinkingHeightened reactivity to stressInescapable footshock stressDevelopment of AUDReactivity to stressChronic alcohol exposureProminent sex differencesIncreased alcohol intakeCharacterize sex differencesFemale C57BL/6J miceDark paradigmComorbid moodFootshock stressStress disorderLimbic circuitsNeurobiological processesModify drinkingNeuroimmune signalingAdministered alcoholFemale rodentsMicroglial densityAlcohol drinking
2024
Alcohol drinking is attenuated by PDE4 inhibition but partial microglia depletion is not sufficient to block stress-induced escalation of alcohol intake in female mice
Garcia-Rivas V, Soares A, Thomas M, Na J, Smith A, Picciotto M, Mineur Y. Alcohol drinking is attenuated by PDE4 inhibition but partial microglia depletion is not sufficient to block stress-induced escalation of alcohol intake in female mice. Alcohol 2024, 122: 31-42. PMID: 39725336, PMCID: PMC12661411, DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2024.12.004.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAlcohol use disorderEthanol drinkingStress exposureEthanol intakeExposure to foot-shock stressDevelopment of alcohol use disordersTreatment of alcohol use disordersEscalation of alcohol intakeFemale miceReduced ethanol intakeFoot-shock stressIdentified sex differencesInhibitor of phosphodiesterase type 4Alcohol intakeEthanol reinforcementPharmacological depletion of microgliaLimbic circuitsUse disorderChronic ethanolNeuroinflammatory triggerDecreased preferenceC57BL/6J malesPhosphodiesterase type 4Sex differencesBinge drinkingAlternative translation initiation produces synaptic organizer proteoforms with distinct localization and functions
Lee P, Sun Y, Soares A, Fai C, Picciotto M, Guo J. Alternative translation initiation produces synaptic organizer proteoforms with distinct localization and functions. Molecular Cell 2024, 84: 3967-3978.e8. PMID: 39317199, PMCID: PMC11490368, DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2024.08.032.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchTranslation initiation siteNeuronal pentraxin receptorAUG translational initiation siteAlternative translation initiation sitesN-terminal signal sequenceN-terminal transmembrane domainRNA secondary structureAlternative translation initiationN-terminal extensionTranslation initiationSignal sequenceProtein isoformsProtein localizationAUG initiatorTransmembrane domainWidespread mechanismSecondary structureInitiation siteAlternative usageAMPA-type glutamate receptorsProteoformsSecreted factorsProteinReduced AMPA receptorMRNA
2023
Nicotinic regulation of microglia: potential contributions to addiction
Soares A, Picciotto M. Nicotinic regulation of microglia: potential contributions to addiction. Journal Of Neural Transmission 2023, 131: 425-435. PMID: 37778006, PMCID: PMC11189589, DOI: 10.1007/s00702-023-02703-9.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsNeuroimmune signalingNicotine addictionΑ7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptorAnti-inflammatory cascadeAnti-inflammatory effectsEffects of nicotineAnti-inflammatory compoundsIntracellular calcium concentrationNicotinic acetylcholine receptorsMicroglial polarizationNicotinic regulationMicroglial activityMicroglial signalingImmunomodulatory effectsImmunosuppressive effectsWithdrawal symptomsCytokine releaseCircuit disruptionPreclinical literaturePreclinical studiesΑ7 nAChRsCircuit dysregulationNicotine dependenceMicrogliaAcetylcholine receptorsPathophysiology of nAChRs: Limbic circuits and related disorders
Mineur Y, Soares A, Etherington I, Abdulla Z, Picciotto M. Pathophysiology of nAChRs: Limbic circuits and related disorders. Pharmacological Research 2023, 191: 106745. PMID: 37011774, DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2023.106745.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDepressive disorderMedication developmentLimbic system areasPreclinical pharmacological studiesHuman epidemiological studiesHuman affective disordersNicotinic acetylcholine receptorsAntidepressant efficacyClinical evidenceLimbic circuitsNicotine intakePreclinical modelsSpecific nAChRsEpidemiological studiesCurrent therapeuticsAffective disordersAcetylcholine receptorsRelated disordersPharmacological studiesStress disorderDisordersEtiology of anxietyNAChRsRelevant targetsEfficacy
2022
ACh signaling modulates activity of the GABAergic signaling network in the basolateral amygdala and behavior in stress-relevant paradigms
Mineur YS, Mose TN, Maibom KL, Pittenger ST, Soares AR, Wu H, Taylor SR, Huang Y, Picciotto MR. ACh signaling modulates activity of the GABAergic signaling network in the basolateral amygdala and behavior in stress-relevant paradigms. Molecular Psychiatry 2022, 27: 4918-4927. PMID: 36050437, PMCID: PMC10718266, DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01749-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBasolateral amygdalaBLA neuronsBalance of inhibitoryHuman mood disordersLight-dark boxGABA interneuronsPV neuronsVIP neuronsCalmodulin-dependent protein kinase IIMale miceACh levelsMood disordersTail suspensionNeuronal activityNeuron subtypesAcetylcholineChronic stressInhibitory signalingBalance of activityHomeostatic functionsBLA activityStress-induced changesNeuronsSocial defeatProtein kinase IISex differences in stress-induced alcohol intake: a review of preclinical studies focused on amygdala and inflammatory pathways
Mineur YS, Garcia-Rivas V, Thomas MA, Soares AR, McKee SA, Picciotto MR. Sex differences in stress-induced alcohol intake: a review of preclinical studies focused on amygdala and inflammatory pathways. Psychopharmacology 2022, 239: 2041-2061. PMID: 35359158, PMCID: PMC9704113, DOI: 10.1007/s00213-022-06120-w.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsConceptsAlcohol intakeInflammatory pathwaysAlcohol drinkingStress-induced alcohol drinkingSex differencesSex-dependent effectsStress-induced alcoholEffects of stressPreclinical behavioral modelsAlcohol-dependent behaviorsMicroglial activationClinical studiesPreclinical studiesInflammatory signalingNeuronal functionAlcohol seekingIntakeFuture studiesDrinkingDifferencesAmygdalaPathwayStudyWomen
2020
Region-specific effects of maternal separation on oxidative stress accumulation in parvalbumin neurons of male and female rats
Soares A, Gildawie K, Honeycutt J, Brenhouse H. Region-specific effects of maternal separation on oxidative stress accumulation in parvalbumin neurons of male and female rats. Behavioural Brain Research 2020, 388: 112658. PMID: 32339550, DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.112658.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsEarly life adversityPrefrontal cortexBasolateral amygdalaMaternal separationLife adversityRegion-specific effectsHistory of early life adversityRats exposed to maternal separationRegion-specific sex differencesEffects of maternal separationPV cell countRisk of mental illnessEffects of MSPV dysfunctionNeuropsychological deficitsBipolar disorderCognitive deficitsPV interneuronsMental illnessSex differencesParvalbumin neuronsPV neuronsHippocampusFemale ratsPostnatal day