Microbiota affects the expression of genes involved in HPA axis regulation and local metabolism of glucocorticoids in chronic psychosocial stress.

The commensal microbiota affects brain functioning, emotional behavior and ACTH and corticosterone responses to acute stress. However, little is known about the role of the microbiota in shaping the chronic stress response in the peripheral components of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis and in the colon. Here, we studied the effects of the chronic stress-microbiota interaction on HPA axis activity and on the expression of colonic corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) system, cytokines and 11ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11HSD1), an enzyme that determines locally produced glucocorticoids. Using specific pathogen-free (SPF) and germ-free (GF) BALB/c mice, we showed that the microbiota modulates emotional behavior in social conflicts and the response of the HPA axis, colon and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) to chronic psychosocial stress. In the pituitary gland, microbiota attenuated the expression of Fkbp5, a gene regulating glucocorticoid receptor sensitivity, while in the adrenal gland, it attenuated the expression of genes encoding steroidogenesis (MC2R, StaR, Cyp11a1) and catecholamine synthesis (TH, PNMT). The pituitary expression of CRH receptor type 1 (CRHR1) and of proopiomelanocortin was not influenced by microbiota. In the colon, the microbiota attenuated the expression of 11HSD1, CRH, urocortin UCN2 and its receptor, CRHR2, but potentiated the expression of cytokines TNFα, IFNγ, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL-13 and IL-17, with the exception of IL-1ß. Compared to GF mice, chronic stress upregulated in SPF animals the expression of pituitary Fkbp5 and colonic CRH and UCN2 and downregulated the expression of colonic cytokines. Differences in the stress responses of both GF and SPF animals were also observed when immunophenotype of MLN cells and their secretion of cytokines were analyzed. The data suggest that the presence of microbiota/intestinal commensals plays an important role in shaping the response of peripheral tissues to stress and indicates possible pathways by which the environment can interact with glucocorticoid signaling.

Influence of early life status epilepticus on the developmental expression profile of the GluA2 subunit of AMPA receptors.

AMPA receptors (AMPARs) are responsible for fast excitatory neurotransmission, and their prolonged activation can result in the generation and spread of epileptic seizures. At early stages of postnatal development, the majority of AMPARs are permeable to both Na(+) and Ca(2+) ions. This permeability, which increases neuronal excitability, is due to the lack of the GluA2 subunit, encoded by the GRIA2A gene, and/or the presence of an unedited GluA2 subunit Q/R site (glutamine instead of arginine). Lithium chloride- and pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus (LiCl/Pilo-SE) in rodents represents a model of severe seizures that result in development of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). The aim of this study was to determine how LiCl/Pilo-SE induced early in life (at postnatal day 12; P12) alters normal expression of the GRIA2A gene and GluA2 protein. SE was interrupted by an injection of paraldehyde (Para). Control groups were 1) naïve animals, and 2) siblings of SE rats receiving only LiCl and paraldehyde (LiCl/Para). The expression profile of GRIA2A mRNA was determined via qPCR, and GluA2 protein levels were measured by western blotting. The analysis was performed at 3h (protein levels), and then 3-, 6-, 13-, and 60days, following LiCl/Pilo-SE or LiCl/Para injection (i.e. at P12, P15, P18, P25, P72 respectively). Six different brain regions were analyzed: frontal (CXFR), parietal (CXPAR), and occipital (CXOC) cortex, dorsal (HD) and ventral (HV) hippocampus, and thalamus (TH). There was a significant increase in GRIA2A mRNA expression in the CXFR, CXPAR, and CXOC of P18 SE animals. In CXFR and HD, increased expression of GluA2 AMPAR subunit protein was detected, as well as a surge in GRIA2A mRNA and GluA2 protein expression especially at P18. In HD the surge was detected not only during development (P18), but also later in life (P72). Since high levels of GluA2 can be neuroprotective (by decreasing Ca(2+) permeability), our data suggest that the neocortex and dorsal hippocampus are able to activate endogenous antiepileptic mechanisms. A marked decrease in the overall expression of GluA2 protein in the HV in the LiCl/Pilo-SE and LiCl/Para rats, suggests that the HV is predisposed to excitotoxicity, not only during development, but even in adulthood. Interestingly, LiCl in combination with paraldehyde can also strongly alter the normal ontogeny of GRIA2A mRNA as well as GluA2 subunit protein expression.

Peripheral circadian clocks are diversely affected by adrenalectomy.

Glucocorticoids are considered to synchronize the rhythmicity of clock genes in peripheral tissues; however, the role of circadian variations of endogenous glucocorticoids is not well defined. In the present study, we examined whether peripheral circadian clocks were impaired by adrenalectomy. To achieve this, we tested the circadian rhythmicity of core clock genes (Bmal1, Per1-3, Cry1, RevErbα, Rora), clock-output genes (Dbp, E4bp4) and a glucocorticoid- and clock-controlled gene (Gilz) in liver, jejunum, kidney cortex, splenocytes and visceral adipose tissue (VAT). Adrenalectomy did not affect the phase of clock gene rhythms but distinctly modulated clock gene mRNA levels, and this effect was partially tissue-dependent. Adrenalectomy had a significant inhibitory effect on the level of Per1 mRNA in VAT, liver and jejunum, but not in kidney and splenocytes. Similarly, adrenalectomy down-regulated mRNA levels of Per2 in splenocytes and VAT, Per3 in jejunum, RevErbα in VAT and Dbp in VAT, kidney and splenocytes, whereas the mRNA amounts of Per1 and Per2 in kidney and Per3 in VAT and splenocytes were up-regulated. On the other hand, adrenalectomy had minimal effects on Rora and E4bp4 mRNAs. Adrenalectomy also resulted in decreased level of Gilz mRNA but did not alter the phase of its diurnal rhythm. Collectively, these findings suggest that adrenalectomy alters the mRNA levels of core clock genes and clock-output genes in peripheral organs and may cause tissue-specific modulations of their circadian profiles, which are reflected in changes of the amplitudes but not phases. Thus, the circulating corticosteroids are necessary for maintaining the high-amplitude rhythmicity of the peripheral clocks in a tissue-specific manner.

Distinct effect of stress on 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 and corticosteroid receptors in dorsal and ventral hippocampus.

Multiple lines of evidence suggest the participation of the hippocampus in the feedback inhibition of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis during stress response. This inhibition is mediated by glucocorticoid feedback due to the sensitivity of the hippocampus to these hormones. The sensitivity is determined by the expression of glucocorticoid (GR) and mineralocorticoid (MR) receptors and 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11HSD1), an enzyme that regulates the conversion of glucocorticoids from inactive to active form. The goal of our study was to assess the effect of stress on the expression of 11HSD1, GR and MR in the ventral and dorsal region of the CA1 hippocampus in three different rat strains with diverse responses to stress: Fisher 344, Lewis and Wistar. Stress stimulated 11HSD1 in the ventral but not dorsal CA1 hippocampus of Fisher 344 but not Lewis or Wistar rats. In contrast, GR expression following stress was decreased in the dorsal but not ventral CA1 hippocampus of all three strains. MR expression was not changed in either the dorsal or ventral CA1 region. These results indicate that (1) depending on the strain, stress stimulates 11HSD1 in the ventral hippocampus, which is known to be involved in stress and emotion reactions whereas (2) independent of strain, stress inhibits GR in the dorsal hippocampus, which is predominantly involved in cognitive functions.

Reciprocal changes in maternal and fetal metabolism of corticosterone in rat during gestation.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the role of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (11HSD1 and 11HSD2) in determining the fetal concentration of glucocorticoids. METHODS: The expression patterns for mRNA abundance, protein level, and enzyme activities of placental and fetal 11HSD1 and 11HSD2 were assessed from embryonic day 13 (E13) to day 21 (E21; term E22). The transplacental passage of maternal corticosterone and its contribution to fetal glucocorticoids was also studied. RESULTS: Placental 11HSD1 mRNA decreased between days E13 and E14 and then remained at much lower values up to E21. Similarly, NADP+-dependent 11beta-oxidation and 11-reduction were lower in late gestation. In contrast, placental 11HSD2 mRNA and protein decreased between E13 and E21. Dithiothreitol increased the activity of 11HSD2 and the output of 11-dehydrocorticosterone into fetal circulation.The fetal activity of 11HSD1 increased and 11HSD2 decreased between E16 and E21. CONCLUSIONS: The final third of gestation is accompanied by reciprocal changes in placental and fetal metabolism of corticosterone due to changes in 11HSD1 and 11HSD2 not only at the level of transcription but also at a posttranslational level.

Glucocorticoid availability in colonic inflammation of rat.

Recent in vitro studies have shown the involvement of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the regulation of the local metabolism of glucocorticoids via 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 and type 2 (11HSD1 and 11HSD2). However, direct in vivo evidence for a relationship among the local metabolism of glucocorticoids, inflammation and steroid enzymes is still lacking. We have therefore examined the changes in the local metabolism of glucocorticoids during colonic inflammation induced by TNBS and the consequences of corticosterone metabolism inhibition by carbenoxolone on 11HSD1, 11HSD2, cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), mucin 2 (MUC-2), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), and interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta). The metabolism of glucocorticoids was measured in tissue slices in vitro and their 11HSD1, 11HSD2, COX-2, MUC-2, TNF-alpha, and IL-1beta mRNA abundances by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Colitis produced an up-regulation of colonic 11HSD1 and down-regulation of 11HSD2 in a dose-dependent manner, and these changes resulted in a decreased capacity of the inflamed tissue to inactivate tissue corticosterone. Similarly, 11HSD1 transcript was increased in colonic intraepithelial lymphocytes of TNBS-treated rats. Topical intracolonic application of carbenoxolone stimulated 11HSD1 mRNA and partially inhibited 11HSD2 mRNA and tissue corticosterone inactivation and these changes were blocked by RU-486. The administration of budesonide mimicked the effect of carbenoxolone. In contrast to the local metabolism of glucocorticoids, carbenoxolone neither potentiates nor diminishes gene expression for COX-2, TNF-alpha, and IL-1beta, despite the fact that budesonide down-regulated all of them. These data indicate that inflammation is associated with the down-regulation of tissue glucocorticoid catabolism. However, these changes in the local metabolism of glucocorticoids do not modulate the expression of COX-2, TNF-alpha, and IL-1beta in inflamed tissue.

Intestinal inflammation modulates expression of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in murine gut.

The effect of glucocorticoids is controlled at the pre-receptor level by the activity of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11HSD). The isoform 11HSD1 is an NADP+ -dependent oxidoreductase, usually reductase, that amplifies the action of glucocorticoids due to reduction of the biologically inactive 11-oxo derivatives cortisone and 11-dehydrocorticosterone to cortisol and corticosterone. The NAD+ -dependent isoform (11HSD2) is an oxidase that restrains the effect of hormones due to 11beta-oxidation of cortisol and corticosterone to their 11-oxo derivatives. Although the immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory effects of glucocorticoids are well known, the relationship between inflammation and local metabolism of glucocorticoids is not well understood. In this study, we demonstrated that colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium modulates colonic 11HSD1. Experimentally induced intestinal inflammation stimulated colonic NADP+ -dependent but not NAD+ -dependent 11HSD activity. Colonic 11HSD1 mRNA was increased, whereas 11HSD2 mRNA was not changed. Additional parallel studies revealed a similar pattern of 11HSD1 mRNA induction in mesenteric lymph nodes and intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes, but not in spleen and peritoneal macrophages. These data suggest that inflammation modulates local metabolism of glucocorticoid and support the notion that pre-receptor regulation of endogenous corticosteroids might play a role in inflammatory processes.