2023
Nicotine addiction: More than just dopamine
Kim K, Picciotto M. Nicotine addiction: More than just dopamine. Current Opinion In Neurobiology 2023, 83: 102797. PMID: 37832393, PMCID: PMC10842238, DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2023.102797.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsConceptsNicotine addictionImportant public health problemAnti-tobacco messagingNicotine-induced behaviorsPublic health problemReward-related behaviorsNovel glutamateDopaminergic mechanismsSmoking cessationNicotine reinforcementMesolimbic systemNicotine seekingRecent studiesTherapeutic targetNicotine aversionHealth problemsActive investigationAdditional pathwaysSex differencesNicotine vapingMolecular mechanismsWithdrawalAddictionPathwayMolecular basisM1 acetylcholine receptors in somatostatin interneurons contribute to GABAergic and glutamatergic plasticity in the mPFC and antidepressant-like responses
Fogaça M, Wu M, Li C, Li X, Duman R, Picciotto M. M1 acetylcholine receptors in somatostatin interneurons contribute to GABAergic and glutamatergic plasticity in the mPFC and antidepressant-like responses. Neuropsychopharmacology 2023, 48: 1277-1287. PMID: 37142667, PMCID: PMC10354201, DOI: 10.1038/s41386-023-01583-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAntidepressant-like effectsMedial prefrontal cortexGABAergic functionSomatostatin interneuronsSST interneuronsGlutamatergic plasticityAcetylcholine receptorsNon-selective muscarinic receptor antagonistRapid antidepressant-like effectsAntidepressant-like responseImpaired synaptic plasticityChronic unpredictable stressMuscarinic receptor antagonistModulation of excitatoryMajor depressive disorderScopolamine-induced increaseStress-induced impairmentM1 acetylcholine receptorExpression of GABAergicAntidepressant developmentGlutamatergic markersReceptor antagonistDepressive disorderLimbic regionsUnpredictable stress
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 IIPositive modulation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors in the mPFC reduces the spontaneous recovery of fear
Lee B, Pothula S, Wu M, Kang H, Girgenti MJ, Picciotto MR, DiLeone RJ, Taylor JR, Duman RS. Positive modulation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors in the mPFC reduces the spontaneous recovery of fear. Molecular Psychiatry 2022, 27: 2580-2589. PMID: 35418600, PMCID: PMC9135632, DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01498-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPosttraumatic stress disorderFear extinctionInfralimbic medial prefrontal cortexFear conditioning modelEnhanced fear extinctionFear-based behaviorsProlonged stress modelMedial prefrontal cortexSpontaneous recoveryIL-mPFCPTSD modelPTSD treatmentStress disorderPrefrontal cortexSPS modelN-methyl-D-aspartate receptor modulatorsBrain-derived neurotrophic factorN-methyl-D-aspartate receptorsBehavioral effectsIncreased attentionMPFCPreclinical findingsPyramidal neuronsNeurotrophic factorMale miceSex 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
2021
Sex differences in progestogen- and androgen-derived neurosteroids in vulnerability to alcohol and stress-related disorders
Peltier MR, Verplaetse TL, Mineur YS, Gueorguieva R, Petrakis I, Cosgrove KP, Picciotto MR, McKee SA. Sex differences in progestogen- and androgen-derived neurosteroids in vulnerability to alcohol and stress-related disorders. Neuropharmacology 2021, 187: 108499. PMID: 33600842, PMCID: PMC7992136, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108499.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsConceptsStress-related disordersAlcohol useMajor depressive disorderAlcohol-related disordersAlcohol use disorderPosttraumatic stress disorderStress regulation systemComplex comorbiditiesDepressive disorderProblematic alcohol useUse disordersAlcohol misuseTherapeutic potentialTrauma exposureSubstance abuseStress disorderAnxiety disordersDisordersExposure resultsProgestogensNeurosteroidsNegative affectWomenComorbiditiesMale counterpartsmicroRNA-33 maintains adaptive thermogenesis via enhanced sympathetic nerve activity
Horie T, Nakao T, Miyasaka Y, Nishino T, Matsumura S, Nakazeki F, Ide Y, Kimura M, Tsuji S, Rodriguez RR, Watanabe T, Yamasaki T, Xu S, Otani C, Miyagawa S, Matsushita K, Sowa N, Omori A, Tanaka J, Nishimura C, Nishiga M, Kuwabara Y, Baba O, Watanabe S, Nishi H, Nakashima Y, Picciotto MR, Inoue H, Watanabe D, Nakamura K, Sasaki T, Kimura T, Ono K. microRNA-33 maintains adaptive thermogenesis via enhanced sympathetic nerve activity. Nature Communications 2021, 12: 843. PMID: 33594062, PMCID: PMC7886914, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21107-5.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSympathetic nerve activityAdaptive thermogenesisNerve activityCre miceMiR-33Brown adipose tissue thermogenesisDBH-positive neuronsMiR-33 levelsGABAergic inhibitory neurotransmissionSympathetic nerve toneCentral neural circuitsAdipose tissue thermogenesisGamma-aminobutyric acidDBH-positive cellsMiR-33 deficiencyWhole-body metabolismCold-induced thermogenesisInhibitory neurotransmissionBAT thermogenesisTissue thermogenesisReceptor subunit genesNeural circuitsAdaptive defense mechanismsThermogenesisMice
2020
Implications of Oligomeric Amyloid-Beta (oAβ42) Signaling through α7β2-Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors (nAChRs) on Basal Forebrain Cholinergic Neuronal Intrinsic Excitability and Cognitive Decline
George AA, Vieira JM, Xavier-Jackson C, Gee MT, Cirrito JR, Bimonte-Nelson HA, Picciotto MR, Lukas RJ, Whiteaker P. Implications of Oligomeric Amyloid-Beta (oAβ42) Signaling through α7β2-Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors (nAChRs) on Basal Forebrain Cholinergic Neuronal Intrinsic Excitability and Cognitive Decline. Journal Of Neuroscience 2020, 41: 555-575. PMID: 33239400, PMCID: PMC7821864, DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0876-20.2020.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAlpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine ReceptorAmyloid beta-PeptidesAmyloid beta-Protein PrecursorAnimalsBasal ForebrainCell LineCognitive DysfunctionElectrophysiological PhenomenaFemaleGenotypeHumansMaleMaze LearningMiceMice, TransgenicNeuronsParasympathetic Nervous SystemPeptide FragmentsSignal TransductionConceptsBasal forebrain cholinergic neuronsNeuronal intrinsic excitabilityAlzheimer's diseaseCholinergic neuronsDiagonal bandIntrinsic excitabilityAPP/PS1 transgenic miceCognitive declineCharacteristics of ADMedial septum-diagonal bandNicotinic acetylcholine receptor subtypesOligomeric amyloid betaAction potential firing rateForebrain cholinergic neuronsPS1 transgenic miceHorizontal diagonal bandLevels of amyloidSeptum-diagonal bandCurrent-clamp recordingsAcetylcholine receptor subtypesAction potential afterhyperpolarizationAge-matched littermatesOrganotypic slice culturesSpatial reference memoryHomomeric α7Inhibition of GABA interneurons in the mPFC is sufficient and necessary for rapid antidepressant responses
Fogaça MV, Wu M, Li C, Li XY, Picciotto MR, Duman RS. Inhibition of GABA interneurons in the mPFC is sufficient and necessary for rapid antidepressant responses. Molecular Psychiatry 2020, 26: 3277-3291. PMID: 33070149, PMCID: PMC8052382, DOI: 10.1038/s41380-020-00916-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGABA interneuronsRapid antidepressant responseMajor depressive disorderAntidepressant effectsSynaptic plasticityAntidepressant responseRapid-acting antidepressantsAcetylcholine muscarinic receptor antagonistMuscarinic receptor antagonistCortical brain areasEffects of scopolamineAntidepressant actionChemogenetic inhibitionGABAergic interneuronsReceptor antagonistDepressive disorderMale miceInterneuron subtypesBrain areasInterneuronsMPFCTransient inhibitionAffective behaviorInhibitionSubtypesAcetylcholine is released in the basolateral amygdala in response to predictors of reward and enhances learning of cue-reward contingency
Crouse RB, Kim K, Batchelor HM, Girardi EM, Kamaletdinova R, Chan J, Rajebhosale P, Pittenger ST, Role LW, Talmage DA, Jing M, Li Y, Gao XB, Mineur YS, Picciotto MR. Acetylcholine is released in the basolateral amygdala in response to predictors of reward and enhances learning of cue-reward contingency. ELife 2020, 9: e57335. PMID: 32945260, PMCID: PMC7529459, DOI: 10.7554/elife.57335.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBasolateral amygdalaCue-reward learningActivity of neuronsReward-related eventsNucleus basalisBLA responsesACh levelsPredictors of rewardTerminal fibersNeuron activityReward-predictive cuesCalcium indicatorsAChNeutral cuesEmotional stimuliAversive stimuliReward retrievalTask acquisitionAmygdalaSalient eventsMiceACh sensorTerminal activityQuick acquisitionCuesImpaired hypocretin/orexin system alters responses to salient stimuli in obese male mice
Tan Y, Hang F, Liu ZW, Stoiljkovic M, Wu M, Tu Y, Han W, Lee AM, Kelley C, Hajos M, Lu L, de Lecea L, de Araujo I, Picciotto M, Horvath TL, Gao XB. Impaired hypocretin/orexin system alters responses to salient stimuli in obese male mice. Journal Of Clinical Investigation 2020, 130: 4985-4998. PMID: 32516139, PMCID: PMC7456212, DOI: 10.1172/jci130889.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHcrt cellsObese miceDiet-induced obese miceObese male miceExcessive energy intakeNeuropeptide hypocretin/orexinHypocretin/orexinHcrt neuronsMale miceHcrt systemClinical studiesCommon causeSynaptic transmissionObese animalsEnergy intakeAcute stressCognitive functionSalient stimuliAlters responsesExact mechanismMiceHomeostatic regulationNeuronal networksBehavioral changesNeuronsHippocampal knockdown of α2 nicotinic or M1 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in C57BL/6J male mice impairs cued fear conditioning
Mineur YS, Ernstsen C, Islam A, Maibom KL, Picciotto MR. Hippocampal knockdown of α2 nicotinic or M1 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in C57BL/6J male mice impairs cued fear conditioning. Genes Brain & Behavior 2020, 19: e12677. PMID: 32447811, PMCID: PMC8018799, DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12677.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsFear learningShort-term learningNumber of paradigmsCued fearLight/dark boxFear conditioningContextual memoryStress-related behaviorsStress-induced reactivityTerm learningBrain circuitsRobust effectM1 mAChRHippocampal acetylcholineM1 muscarinic ACh receptorsNovelty-suppressed feeding testLearningMemoryDark boxHippocampus of malesM1 muscarinic acetylcholine receptorHippocampal knockdownFearMuscarinic ACh receptorsGroups of miceGABA interneurons are the cellular trigger for ketamine’s rapid antidepressant actions
Gerhard DM, Pothula S, Liu RJ, Wu M, Li XY, Girgenti MJ, Taylor SR, Duman CH, Delpire E, Picciotto M, Wohleb ES, Duman RS. GABA interneurons are the cellular trigger for ketamine’s rapid antidepressant actions. Journal Of Clinical Investigation 2020, 130: 1336-1349. PMID: 31743111, PMCID: PMC7269589, DOI: 10.1172/jci130808.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRapid antidepressant actionsAntidepressant actionGABA interneuronsMedial prefrontal cortexCell-specific knockdownPrinciple neuronsPrefrontal cortexDeletion of GluN2BSingle subanesthetic doseBehavioral actionsAction of ketamineNMDA receptor antagonistExcitatory postsynaptic currentsCellular triggersMajor unmet needKetamine's rapid antidepressant actionsGABA subtypeGluN2B-NMDARsSST interneuronsPostsynaptic currentsReceptor antagonistDepressed patientsSubanesthetic doseExtracellular glutamateMood disorders
2019
Variability in nicotine conditioned place preference and stress‐induced reinstatement in mice: Effects of sex, initial chamber preference, and guanfacine
Lee AM, Calarco CA, McKee SA, Mineur YS, Picciotto MR. Variability in nicotine conditioned place preference and stress‐induced reinstatement in mice: Effects of sex, initial chamber preference, and guanfacine. Genes Brain & Behavior 2019, 19: e12601. PMID: 31364813, PMCID: PMC8045136, DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12601.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsStress-induced reinstatementEffects of guanfacinePlace preferenceFemale miceInfralimbic cortexArc immunoreactivityΑ2-adrenergic receptor agonistAnterior insulaNeurobiological mechanismsLateral central amygdalaNovel treatment optionsChamber preferencePlace preference acquisitionSex-dependent changesStress-induced relapseDose-response patternNucleus accumbens coreNicotine-dependent behaviorsSmoking occursTreatment optionsNicotine rewardReceptor agonistCentral amygdalaNeuronal activationPreclinical studiesInduction of reversible bidirectional social approach bias by olfactory conditioning in male mice
Chan J, Stout D, Pittenger ST, Picciotto MR, Lewis AS. Induction of reversible bidirectional social approach bias by olfactory conditioning in male mice. Social Neuroscience 2019, 15: 25-35. PMID: 31303111, PMCID: PMC6980898, DOI: 10.1080/17470919.2019.1644370.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPositive social experiencesSocial avoidanceSocial experienceNegative social experiencesBrief social defeatApproach biasNeural representationApproach behaviorExperience valenceBehavioral paradigmsBehavioral confoundsMost paradigmsNegative conditioningOlfactory conditioningSocial approachSocial defeatBrain regionsSubstantial functional impairmentAvoidanceConditioningParadigmNeuropsychiatric disordersFunctional impairmentExperienceConfoundsSex differences in amphetamine-induced dopamine release in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of tobacco smokers
Zakiniaeiz Y, Hillmer AT, Matuskey D, Nabulsi N, Ropchan J, Mazure CM, Picciotto MR, Huang Y, McKee SA, Morris ED, Cosgrove KP. Sex differences in amphetamine-induced dopamine release in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of tobacco smokers. Neuropsychopharmacology 2019, 44: 2205-2211. PMID: 31269510, PMCID: PMC6897943, DOI: 10.1038/s41386-019-0456-y.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsConceptsDA releasePositron emission tomographyD2R availabilityDorsolateral prefrontal cortexMale smokersFemale smokersTobacco smokingPrefrontal cortexAmphetamine-induced DA releaseAmphetamine-induced dopamine releaseCortical DA releaseMesocortical DA systemEffects of nicotineSmoking-related behaviorsMesolimbic dopamine systemLong-term abstinenceSex differencesGender-specific treatmentFemale nonsmokersTobacco smokersAmphetamine administrationDopamine releaseNeurochemical mechanismsNonsmokersSmokersPerinatal nicotine exposure impairs learning of a skilled forelimb reaching task in male but not female adult mice
Lee AM, Picciotto MR. Perinatal nicotine exposure impairs learning of a skilled forelimb reaching task in male but not female adult mice. Behavioural Brain Research 2019, 367: 176-180. PMID: 30959127, PMCID: PMC6481625, DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.04.007.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNicotine exposureSingle-pellet reaching taskMotor tasksCortical synaptic plasticityPerinatal nicotine exposureDevelopmental nicotine exposureGross motor functionNicotine-treated animalsNicotine-induced changesFemale adult miceSkilled motor taskGross motor performanceAdverse outcomesMotor cortexFemale miceMale miceMotor functionSkilled forelimbPreclinical studiesControl animalsAdult miceImpaired learningSynaptic plasticityFemale pupsMorphologic changes
2018
The 7q11.23 Protein DNAJC30 Interacts with ATP Synthase and Links Mitochondria to Brain Development
Tebbenkamp ATN, Varela L, Choi J, Paredes MI, Giani AM, Song JE, Sestan-Pesa M, Franjic D, Sousa AMM, Liu ZW, Li M, Bichsel C, Koch M, Szigeti-Buck K, Liu F, Li Z, Kawasawa YI, Paspalas CD, Mineur YS, Prontera P, Merla G, Picciotto MR, Arnsten AFT, Horvath TL, Sestan N. The 7q11.23 Protein DNAJC30 Interacts with ATP Synthase and Links Mitochondria to Brain Development. Cell 2018, 175: 1088-1104.e23. PMID: 30318146, PMCID: PMC6459420, DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2018.09.014.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCopy number variationsATP synthase dimersOxidative phosphorylation supercomplexesHuman neurodevelopmental disordersATP synthaseWS pathogenesisGene contributionMitochondrial featuresBrain developmentWilliams syndromeMitochondrial dysfunctionNeocortical pyramidal neuronsNeural phenotypesMitochondriaPyramidal neuronsMachineryMorphological featuresNeurodevelopmental disordersDysfunctionSupercomplexesPhenotypeAn Exploratory Trial of Transdermal Nicotine for Aggression and Irritability in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Lewis AS, van Schalkwyk GI, Lopez MO, Volkmar FR, Picciotto MR, Sukhodolsky DG. An Exploratory Trial of Transdermal Nicotine for Aggression and Irritability in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal Of Autism And Developmental Disorders 2018, 48: 2748-2757. PMID: 29536216, PMCID: PMC6394231, DOI: 10.1007/s10803-018-3536-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAutism spectrum disorderSpectrum disorderTransdermal nicotineDouble-blind crossover trialAggressive behaviorPreliminary efficacyAggressive symptomsSleep ratingsAggressionSubscale changesNicotinic acetylcholine receptorsNAChR agonistsPrimary outcomeNicotine treatmentCrossover trialExploratory trialΑ7 nAChRsAcetylcholine receptorsNicotineAdultsDisordersPlaceboNAChRsFurther investigationTrialsInteraction between noradrenergic and cholinergic signaling in amygdala regulates anxiety- and depression-related behaviors in mice
Mineur YS, Cahuzac EL, Mose TN, Bentham MP, Plantenga ME, Thompson DC, Picciotto MR. Interaction between noradrenergic and cholinergic signaling in amygdala regulates anxiety- and depression-related behaviors in mice. Neuropsychopharmacology 2018, 43: 2118-2125. PMID: 29472646, PMCID: PMC6098039, DOI: 10.1038/s41386-018-0024-x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAcetylcholineAdrenergic alpha-AgonistsAlkaloidsAmygdalaAnimalsAnxietyAzocinesCholinesterase InhibitorsDepressionFemaleGene Knockdown TechniquesGuanfacineMaleMiceMice, Inbred C57BLNicotinic AgonistsNorepinephrineParasympathetic Nervous SystemQuinolizinesReceptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2Signal TransductionSympathetic Nervous SystemConceptsAntidepressant-like effectsNoradrenergic systemMale C57BL/6J miceDepression-related behaviorsDepression-like phenotypeNicotinic acetylcholine receptorsAntidepressant efficacyCholinergic interactionsNE terminalsC57BL/6J miceShRNA-mediated knockdownAgonist guanfacineAgonist cytisineClinical studiesSmoking relapseΑ2A receptorsAcute abstinenceBrain areasAcetylcholine receptorsAcetylcholineGuanfacineAmygdalaBehavioral effectsAnxiety disordersStress pathways