2024
Transient impairment in microglial function causes sex-specific deficits in synaptic maturity and hippocampal function in mice exposed to early adversity
Ahmed S, Polis B, Jamwal S, Sanganahalli B, MacDowell Kaswan Z, Islam R, Kim D, Bowers C, Giuliano L, Biederer T, Hyder F, Kaffman A. Transient impairment in microglial function causes sex-specific deficits in synaptic maturity and hippocampal function in mice exposed to early adversity. Brain Behavior And Immunity 2024, 122: 95-109. PMID: 39134183, PMCID: PMC11402597, DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2024.08.010.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchEarly-life adversityModel of early-life adversityContextual fear conditioningLimited beddingFear conditioningSynaptic engulfmentLB miceSynaptic pruningSex-specific deficitsHippocampus of maleSex-specific effectsHippocampal deficitsAdolescent miceHippocampal functionEarly adversityChemogenetic activationSynaptic connectionsBehavioral aberrationsPotential compensatory mechanismsSynaptic abnormalitiesHippocampusAblation of microgliaRodent hippocampusDeficitsWeeks of lifeMicroglia: The Drunken Gardeners of Early Adversity
Ahmed S, Polis B, Kaffman A. Microglia: The Drunken Gardeners of Early Adversity. Biomolecules 2024, 14: 964. PMID: 39199352, PMCID: PMC11353196, DOI: 10.3390/biom14080964.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchEarly life adversityAbnormal immune responseImpact of early life adversityHistory of early life adversityRodent studiesImmune responseNegative childhood experiencesConditions in adulthoodLevels of inflammatory cytokinesLong-term alterationsRefractory responses to treatmentAbnormal brain developmentMicroglial functionResponse to treatmentTraumatic brain injuryResident immune cellsStress reactivityEarly adversityLife adversitySubstance useChildhood experiencesMicroglial inflammatory responseImmune cellsIn adulthoodPeriod of developmentEarly adversity causes sex-specific deficits in perforant pathway connectivity and contextual memory in adolescent mice
Islam R, White J, Arefin T, Mehta S, Liu X, Polis B, Giuliano L, Ahmed S, Bowers C, Zhang J, Kaffman A. Early adversity causes sex-specific deficits in perforant pathway connectivity and contextual memory in adolescent mice. Biology Of Sex Differences 2024, 15: 39. PMID: 38715106, PMCID: PMC11075329, DOI: 10.1186/s13293-024-00616-0.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLateral entorhinal cortexContextual fear conditioningDorsal hippocampusHippocampal developmentSex differencesFear conditioningEarly adversityLimited beddingSevere deficitsModel of early adversitySex-specific deficitsReelin-positive neuronsPerforant pathwayReelin-positive cellsDiffusion magnetic resonance imagingEx vivo diffusion magnetic resonance imagingContextual freezingContextual memoryAdolescent miceHippocampal functionLife adversityEntorhinal cortexHippocampusDeficitsAdolescent males
2023
Early adversity changes the economic conditions of mouse structural brain network organization
Carozza S, Holmes J, Vértes P, Bullmore E, Arefin T, Pugliese A, Zhang J, Kaffman A, Akarca D, Astle D. Early adversity changes the economic conditions of mouse structural brain network organization. Developmental Psychobiology 2023, 65: e22405. PMID: 37607894, PMCID: PMC10505050, DOI: 10.1002/dev.22405.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsEarly adversityStructural brain network organizationPostnatal stressBrain network organizationMental health outcomesEarly life adversityCognitive abilitiesNeural processesLife adversityConnectome organizationAdversityStructural connectomeConnectomeNetwork organizationGenerative processMouse connectomeHealth outcomesLong-distance connectionsOrganizationEffective responseAdaptive mechanismsAbilityStressWiring cost
2022
Early life stress impairs synaptic pruning in the developing hippocampus
Dayananda KK, Ahmed S, Wang D, Polis B, Islam R, Kaffman A. Early life stress impairs synaptic pruning in the developing hippocampus. Brain Behavior And Immunity 2022, 107: 16-31. PMID: 36174883, PMCID: PMC10497209, DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2022.09.014.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSynaptic pruningMicroglial ramificationHippocampal functionAbnormal hippocampal functionCA1 pyramidal neuronsExpression of TREM2Increased spine densityRamification of microgliaEarly life adversityNormal hippocampal functionSynaptic engulfmentClinical outcomesPyramidal neuronsSpine densityFemale miceHippocampal stimulationSevere formHippocampal developmentPhagocytic activitySevere impairmentEx vivoLife adversityThird weekEarly adversityMice
2021
White-Matter Repair as a Novel Therapeutic Target for Early Adversity
Islam R, Kaffman A. White-Matter Repair as a Novel Therapeutic Target for Early Adversity. Frontiers In Neuroscience 2021, 15: 657693. PMID: 33897364, PMCID: PMC8062784, DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.657693.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMyelin developmentWhite matter repairNovel therapeutic targetPre-clinical workNovel therapeutic interventionsNon-human primatesNew agentsTherapeutic targetAnimal modelsTherapeutic interventionsTranslational researchEarly adversityRecent mechanistic studiesMolecular mechanismsRodentsDiverse mammalian species
2020
Systematic review and meta-analysis: effects of maternal separation on anxiety-like behavior in rodents
Wang D, Levine JLS, Avila-Quintero V, Bloch M, Kaffman A. Systematic review and meta-analysis: effects of maternal separation on anxiety-like behavior in rodents. Translational Psychiatry 2020, 10: 174. PMID: 32483128, PMCID: PMC7264128, DOI: 10.1038/s41398-020-0856-0.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpen field testEarly life stressSystematic reviewEffects of MSEffects of ELSAnxiety-like behaviorDefensive behaviorAnxiogenic effectsMaternal separationRodent modelsRatsEarly adversityMiceAbility of MSLife stressLack of standardizationChildhood maltreatmentRodentsExploratory behaviorEffect sizeInconsistent resultsELS modelImportant differencesReviewMS protocol