Standard rodent diets differentially impact alcohol consumption and preference and gut microbiome diversity.

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a complex and widespread disease with limited pharmacotherapies. Preclinical animal models of AUD use a variety of voluntary alcohol consumption procedures to recapitulate different phases of AUD including binge alcohol consumption and dependence. However, voluntary alcohol consumption in mice is widely variable rendering it difficult to reproduce results across labs. Accumulating evidence indicates that different brands of commercially available rodent chow can profoundly influence alcohol intake. In this study, we investigated the effects of three commercially available and widely used rodent diet formulations on alcohol consumption and preference in C57BL/6J mice using the 24h intermittent access procedure. The three brands of chow tested were LabDiet 5001 (LD 5001), LabDiet 5053 (LD 5053), and Teklad 2019S (TL2019S) from two companies (Research Diets and Envigo respectively). Mice fed LD5001 displayed the highest levels of alcohol consumption and preference followed by LD5053 and TL2019S. We also found that alcohol consumption and preference could be rapidly switched by changing the diet 48h prior to alcohol administration. Sucrose, saccharin, and quinine preference were not altered suggesting that the diets did not alter taste perception. We also found that mice fed LD5001 displayed increased quinine-resistant alcohol intake compared to mice fed TL2019S, suggesting that diets could influence the development of "compulsive" like alcohol consumption. We profiled the gut microbiome of water and alcohol drinking mice that were maintained on different diets and found significant differences in bacterial alpha and beta diversity, which could impact gut-brain axis signaling and alcohol consumption.

Cocaine-use disorder and childhood maltreatment are associated with the activation of neutrophils and increased inflammation.

BACKGROUND: Cocaine-use disorder (CUD) has been associated with early life adversity and activated cellular immune responses. Women are most vulnerable to complications from chronic substance disorders, generally presenting an intense feeling of abstinence and consuming significant drug amounts. Here, we investigated neutrophil functional activities in CUD, including the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) and related intracellular signalling. We also investigated the role of early life stress in inflammatory profiles. METHODS: Blood samples, clinical data, and history of childhood abuse or neglect were collected at the onset of detoxification treatment of 41 female individuals with CUD and 31 healthy controls (HCs). Plasma cytokines, neutrophil phagocytosis, NETs, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and phosphorylated protein kinase B (Akt) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK)s were assessed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: CUD subjects had higher scores of childhood trauma than controls. Increased plasma cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, and IL-10), neutrophil phagocytosis, and production of NETs were reported in CUD subjects as compared to HC. Neutrophils of CUD subjects also produced high levels of intracellular ROS and had more activated Akt and MAPKs (p38/ERK), which are essential signalling pathways involved in cell survival and NETs production. Childhood trauma scores were significantly associated with neutrophil activation and peripheral inflammation. CONCLUSION: Our study reinforces that smoked cocaine and early life stress activate neutrophils in an inflammatory environment.

Cocaine use disorder effects on blood oxytocin levels and OXTR DNA methylation.

Substance use disorders have been associated with alterations in the oxytocinergic system, but few studies have investigated both the peptide and epigenetic mechanisms potentially implicated in the regulation of oxytocin receptor. In this study, we compared plasma oxytocin and blood DNA methylation in the OXTR gene between people with and without cocaine use disorder (CUD). We measured the oxytocin levels of 51 people with CUD during acute abstinence and of 30 healthy controls using an enzyme immunoassay. The levels of DNA methylation in four CpG sites at exon III of the OXTR gene were evaluated in a subsample using pyrosequencing. The Addiction Severity Index was used to assess clinical characteristics. We found higher oxytocin levels in men with CUD (56.5 pg/mL; 95% CI: 48.2-64.7) than in control men (33.6 pg/mL; 95% CI: 20.7-46.5), while no differences between women with and without CUD were detected. With a moderate effect size, the interaction effect between group and sex remained significant when controlling for height, weight and age data. A positive correlation in the CUD sample was found between oxytocin levels and days of psychological suffering prior to treatment enrollment. No group differences were observed regarding DNA methylation data. This suggests that CUD is associated with higher peripheral oxytocin levels in men during acute abstinence. This finding may be considered in future studies that aim at using exogenous oxytocin as a potential treatment for cocaine addiction.

Effects of substance use disorder on oxidative and antioxidative stress markers: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Recently, it has been suggested that central and peripheral toxicities identified in persons with substance use disorder (SUD) could be partially associated with an imbalance in reactive oxygen species and antioxidant defenses. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate whether SUD is associated with oxidative stress and to identify biomarkers possibly more affected by this condition. We have included studies that analysed oxidant and antioxidant markers in individuals with SUD caused by stimulants, alcohol, nicotine, opioids, and others (cannabis, inhalants, and polysubstance use). Our analysis showed that persons with SUD show higher oxidant markers and lower antioxidant markers than healthy controls. SUD was associated specifically with higher levels of oxidant markers malondialdehyde, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and lipid peroxidation. Conversely, the antioxidant superoxide dismutase and the total antioxidant capacity/status were lowered in the SUD group. A meta-regression analysis revealed that persons with alcohol use disorder had higher oxidative stress estimates than those with stimulant use disorder. Moreover, individuals evaluated during abstinence showed smaller antioxidant effect sizes than non-abstinent ones. Our findings suggest a clear oxidative imbalance in persons with SUD, which could lead to cell damage and result in multiple associated comorbidities, particularly accelerated aging.

Oxytocin Receptor Exon III Methylation in the Umbilical Cord Blood of Newborns With Prenatal Exposure to Crack Cocaine.

BACKGROUND: Prenatal cocaine exposure (PCE) is associated with behavioral, cognitive, and social consequences in children that might persist into later development. However, there are still few data concerning epigenetic mechanisms associated with the effects of gestational cocaine exposure, particularly in human newborns. AIMS: We investigated the effects of PCE on DNA methylation patterns of the Oxytocin Receptor (OXTR) gene in the umbilical cord blood (UCB). The relationship between UCB DNA methylation levels and the severity of the mother's cocaine use during pregnancy was also evaluated. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 28 UCB samples of newborns with a history of crack cocaine exposure in utero and 30 UCB samples of non-exposed newborns (NEC) were compared for DNA methylation levels at two genomic loci located in exon III of the OXTR gene (OXTR1 and OXTR2) through pyrosequencing. Maternal psychopathology was investigated using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview, and substance use characteristics and addiction severity were assessed using the Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST). RESULTS: No differences between newborns with a history of PCE and NEC were observed in OXTR1 or OXTR2 DNA methylation levels. However, regression analyses showed that maternal addiction severity for crack cocaine use predicted OXTR1 DNA methylation in newborns. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that OXTR methylation levels in the UCB of children are affected by the severity of maternal crack cocaine usage. Larger studies are likely to detect specific changes in DNA methylation relevant to the consequences of PCE.

P2Y2 receptor activation promotes esophageal cancer cells proliferation via ERK1/2 pathway.

Esophageal cancer is a prominent worldwide illness that is divided into two main subtypes: esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and esophageal adenocarcinoma. Mortality rates are alarming, and the understanding of the mechanisms involved in esophageal cancer development, becomes essential. Purinergic signaling is related to many diseases and among these various types of tumors. Here we studied the effects of the P2Y2 receptor activation in different types of esophageal cancer. Esophageal tissue samples of healthy controls were used for P2Y2R expression quantification. Two human esophageal cancer cell lines Kyse-450 (squamous cell carcinoma) and OE-33 (adenocarcinoma) were used to perform in vitro analysis of cell proliferation, migration, adhesion, and the signaling pathways involved in P2Y2R activation. Data showed that P2Y2R was expressed in biopsies of patients with ESCC and adenocarcinoma, as well as in the two human esophageal cancer cell lines studied. The RT-qPCR analysis demonstrated that OE-33 cells have higher P2RY2 expression than Kyse-450 squamous cell line. Results showed that P2Y2R activation, induced by ATP or UTP, promoted esophageal cancer cells proliferation and colony formation. P2Y2R blockage with the selective antagonist, AR-C 118925XX, led to decreased proliferation, colony formation and adhesion. Treatments with ATP or UTP activated ERK 1/2 pathway in ESCC and ECA cells. The P2Y2R antagonism did not alter the migration of esophageal cancer cells. Interestingly, the esophageal cancer cell lines presented a distinct profile of nucleotide hydrolysis activity. The modulation of P2Y2 receptors may be a promising target for esophageal cancer treatment.

Maternal separation induces long-term oxidative stress alterations and increases anxiety-like behavior of male Balb/cJ mice.

Early life stress (ELS) exposure is a well-known risk factor for the development of psychiatric conditions, including anxiety disorder. Preclinical studies show that maternal separation (MS), a classical model of ELS, causes hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis alterations, a key contributor to the stress response modulation. Given that HPA axis activation has been shown to induce oxidative stress, it is possible to hypothesize that oxidative stress mediates the relationship between chronic ELS exposure and the development of several disorders. Here, we investigate the effects of MS in the oxidative status [plasma and brain reduced glutathione, catalase and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS)], metabolism (glucose, triglycerides and cholesterol) and anxiety-like behaviors in adult Balb/cJ mice. In short, we found that MS increased anxiety-like behaviors in the open field, light/dark test but not in the elevated-plus maze. Animals also presented increased circulating cholesterol, increased TBARS in the plasma and decreased catalase in the hippocampus. Our findings suggest that MS induces long-term alterations in oxidative stress and increased anxiety-like behaviors.

Cocaine Use Disorder Is Associated With Changes in Th1/Th2/Th17 Cytokines and Lymphocytes Subsets.

Background: Cocaine is a psychostimulant drug with high addictive proprieties. Evidence suggests that cocaine use leads to critical changes in the immune system, with significant effects on T, B, and natural killer (NK) cells and influencing peripheral levels of cytokines. The presence of abstinence-related symptoms during detoxification treatment is known to influence the prognosis. Here, our aim was to investigate immune profiles in women with cocaine use disorder (CUD) according to withdrawal symptoms severity. Methods: Blood samples and clinical data were collected at onset of detoxification treatment of 50 women with CUD. The patients were stratified according to Cocaine Selective Severity Assessment (CSSA) scores in low withdrawal (L-W) and high withdrawal (H-W) categories. In addition, we also included a control group with 19 healthy women as reference to immune parameters. Peripheral blood was collected and lymphocyte subsets were phenotyped by multi-color flow cytometry (B cells, CD4+ T, CD8+ T, NK cells, and different stages of T-cell differentiation). PBMCs from patients and healthy controls were stimulated in vitro with phytohemagglutinin (1%) for 72 h to assess the production of Th1/Th2/Th17 cytokines. Results: Following stimulation, lymphocytes from women with CUD produced increased levels of Th1/Th2/Th17 cytokines. However, higher levels of IL-2 and IL-17 were observed only in the L-W group, while higher levels of IL-6 were detected in the H-W group compared to controls. H-W group showed lower percentage of early-differentiated Th cells (CD4+CD27+CD28+), elevated percentage of Th cells (CD3+CD4+), intermediate-differentiated Th cells (CD4+CD27-CD28+), and B cells (CD3-CD19+). Both CUD groups showed decreased percentages of naïve T cells (CD3+CD4+CD45RA+ and CD3+CD8+CD45RA+). Conclusion: Our data demonstrated that CUD can lead to increased production of Th1/Th2/Th17 cytokines and lymphocyte changes.

Association between cognitive performance and SYT1-rs2251214 among women with cocaine use disorder.

The SNP rs2251214 of the SYT1 gene was recently associated with externalizing phenotypes, including ADHD and cocaine use disorder (CUD). Here, we investigated whether SYT1-rs2251214 could also be implicated with cognitive performance variations among women with CUD. Results showed that G homozygous (n = 146) have lower cognitive performance in the Stroop, Trail Making and Matrix Reasoning tests compared with A-allele carriers (n = 64), suggesting that rs2251214 may influence the severity of cognitive impairments in CUD.

Acute neuroinflammation elicited by TLR-3 systemic activation combined with early life stress induces working memory impairments in male adolescent mice.

Toll-like Receptors (TLRs) are implicated with the pathogenesis of cognitive impairment induced by inflammation. Early life stress is associated with altered trajectories of neuroimmune signaling with implications for cognitive development. However, effects of TLR-3 activation on early life stress-related cognitive outcomes are understudied. We investigated the effects of maternal separation (MS) during postnatal development and a viral immune challenge during adolescence on working memory performance. BALB/c mice exposed to MS were separated from their dams daily for 180-min from postnatal day (PND) 2 to 15. At PND 45, animals were challenged with a single i.p. injection of either Poly (I:C) or sterile saline, and then subjected to a spatial working memory test in a Y-maze apparatus. Gene expression was determined by qPCR. Protein levels of oxidative stress markers were also assessed. A single peripheral administration of a TLR-3 agonist was able to induce working memory impairments in adolescent mice exposed to MS. At a molecular level, exposure to MS was associated with lower mRNA levels of Tlr3 in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). However, when MS animals were exposed to Poly (I:C), a more robust activation of Tlr3, Il6 and Nfkb1 gene transcription was observed in these mice compared with control animals. These modifications did not result in oxidative stress. Finally, higher mRNA levels of Nfkb1 in the mPFC were correlated with lower working memory performance, suggesting that altered NF-κB signaling might be related with poor cognitive functioning. These results have implications for how ELS affects neuroimmune signaling in the mPFC.

Peripheral blood microRNA levels in females with cocaine use disorder.

BACKGROUND: There is growing emphasis in the field of psychiatry on the need to identify candidate biomarkers to aid in diagnosis and clinical management of addictive disorders. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small nucleotide sequences with the ability to regulate gene expression at the transcriptomic level. However, the role of miRNAs as potential biomarkers for addiction is still underexplored. Based on translational and clinical findings, we compared the expression levels of microRNA-124 (miR-124), microRNA-181 (miR-181), and microRNA-212 (miR-212) between a group of females with cocaine use disorder (CUD; n = 30) and a group of healthy female controls (HC; n = 20). METHODS: Blood expression levels of miR-124, miR-181, and miR-212 in the HC and CUD group were determined by qPCR, using two miRNAs as endogenous controls (miR-24 and miR-126). Substance use behavior was assessed by self-report using the Addiction Severity Index (ASI-6) and depressive symptoms severity was measured using the Beck Depressive Inventory (BDI-II). Urine screen test was performed to detect cocaine metabolites. RESULTS: Mir-124 and miR-181 were upregulated in the CUD group (p > 0.01). Furthermore, increased cognitive/affective depression symptoms were identified among a CUD subgroup with the higher miR-181 expression levels (p > 0.05). No significant difference in expression levels was found for miR-212. CONCLUSIONS: MiR-124 and miR-181 show promise as biomarkers for CUD when assessed in the peripheral blood. Further investigation is needed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying these associations and to validate target genes regulated by these miRNAs.

Potential role of P2X7R in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma proliferation.

Esophageal cancer is an aggressive tumor and is the sixth leading cause of cancer death worldwide. ATP is well known to regulate cancer progression in a variety of models by different mechanisms, including P2X7R activation. This study aimed to evaluate the role of P2X7R in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) proliferation. Our results show that treatment with high ATP concentrations induced a decrease in cell number, cell viability, number of polyclonal colonies, and reduced migration of ESCC. The treatment with the selective P2X7R antagonist A740003 or siRNA for P2X7 reverted this effect in the KYSE450 cell line. In addition, results showed that P2X7R is highly expressed, at mRNA and protein levels, in KYSE450 lineage. Additionally, KYSE450, KYSE30, and OE21 cells express P2X3R, P2X4R, P2X5R, P2X6R, and P2X7R genes. P2X1R is expressed by KYSE30 and KYSE450, and only KYSE450 expresses the P2X2R gene. Furthermore, esophageal cancer cell line KYSE450 presented higher expression of E-NTPDases 1 and 2 and of Ecto-5'-NT/CD73 when compared to normal cells. This cell line also exhibits ATPase, ADPase, and AMPase activity, although in different levels, and the co-treatment of apyrase was able to revert the antiproliferative effects of ATP. Moreover, results showed high immunostaining for P2X7R in biopsies of patients with esophageal carcinoma, indicating the involvement of this receptor in the growth of this type of cancer. The results suggest that P2X7R may be a potential pharmacological target to treat ESCC and can lead us to further investigate the effect of this receptor in cancer cell progression.

High Volume Exercise Training in Older Athletes Influences Inflammatory and Redox Responses to Acute Exercise.

To examine whether the volume of previous exercise training in older athletes influences inflammatory, redox, and hormonal profiles, 40 trained marathon runners were divided into higher-volume (HVG, ∼480 min/week) and lower-volume groups (LVG, ∼240 min/week). Plasma inflammatory proteins, redox biomarkers, salivary testosterone, and cortisol were assessed at restand following two maximal acute exercise bouts. At rest, the LVG exhibited higher CRP, higher protein carbonyls, and lower SOD activity compared to the HVG (p's < .05). In response to exercise, TNF-α declined similarly in both groups whereas CRP increased differentially (+60% LVG; +24% HVG; p's < .05). Protein carbonyls decreased and thiols increased similarly in both groups, but SOD declined differentially between groups (-14% LVG; -20% HVG; p's < .05). Salivary testosterone decreased similarly in both groups, whereas cortisol did not change. A higher volume of training is associated with favorable inflammatory and redox profiles at rest, perhaps mediated by small inflammatory responses to acute exercise.

The impact of childhood maltreatment on redox state: Relationship with oxidative damage and antioxidant defenses in adolescents with no psychiatric disorder.

Early life stress (ELS) has been associated with biological and psychosocial alterations due to developmental reprogramming. Here, we investigated whether childhood maltreatment is associated with an imbalance between the production of oxidative markers and antioxidant defenses. Thirty adolescents with no psychiatric disorder but reporting childhood maltreatment and twenty-seven adolescents with no psychiatric disorder and no history of ELS were recruited for the study. Childhood maltreatment was investigated by the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). Redox state was estimated by plasma levels of protein carbonylation, total thiol content (SH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), as well as total reactive antioxidant potential (TRAP). Childhood maltreatment was associated with oxidative stress as shown by increased protein carbonylation. Interestingly, adolescents exposed to maltreatment also displayed higher SOD levels, TRAP kinetics and reduced GPx levels when compared with adolescents who had not undergone childhood maltreatment. No significant differences were observed for SH levels. Taken together, we provide novel evidence indicating that childhood maltreatment is associated with increased oxidative stress markers in otherwise healthy adolescents.

Acupuncture for sleep quality, BDNF levels and immunosenescence: a randomized controlled study.

Poor sleep in elderly populations is associated with detrimental neuropsychological, and physiological changes including premature immunosenescence and reduced brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Here, we evaluated the effects of acupuncture on sleep quality, psychological distress and immunosenescence in elderly, as well as effects on BDNF levels. Forty-eight community-dwelling elderly were randomized into true or placebo acupuncture, and intervention consisted of ten sessions. Sleep quality, depression and stress scores were evaluated by the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), beck depression inventory (BDI II) and perceived stress scale (PSS), respectively, before and after the intervention. Lymphocyte subsets commonly associated with stress, sleep impairment and immunosenescence were phenotyped by flow cytometry. BDNF plasma levels were assessed by ELISAs. Acupuncture was highly effective for improving sleep quality (-53.23%; p<0.01), depression (-48.41%; p<0.01), and stress (-25.46%; p<0.01). However, neither lymphocyte subpopulations nor BDNF levels changed following the intervention.

Early abstinence of crack-cocaine is effective to attenuate oxidative stress and to improve antioxidant defences.

RATIONALE: Preclinical studies have shown that cocaine exposure and withdrawal are associated with cellular oxidative stress damage. However, the impact of crack-cocaine dependence on oxidative stress biomarkers remains unclear. Here, we assessed peripheral oxidative stress and antioxidant defences during two periods of crack-cocaine detoxification treatment and associated these changes with psychological morbidity. METHODS: Thirty female inpatients were recruited, and plasma samples were collected at the 4th and 18th days of abstinence; 30 healthy controls were also recruited. Plasma levels of protein carbonyl, protein thiol content, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), reduced reduced (GSH) and total reactive antioxidant potential (TRAP) were measured by standard methods; the questionnaires Cocaine Selective Severity Assessment, Beck Depressive Inventory and the Addiction Severity Index were applied. RESULTS: We report higher oxidative stress damage after 4 days of detoxification, as shown by increased total thiol content and protein carbonylation when compared with control group and after 18 days of detoxification. After 18 days of treatment, we observed a recovery of the oxidative stress damage and increase of the antioxidant defences, as shown by higher levels of SOD, GPx, GSH and TRAP. There was a positive correlation between protein carbonylation and psychological variables; in contrast, there was a negative correlation between TRAP levels and clinical assessments. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, these results suggest that drug rehabilitation treatment was effective in decreasing oxidative damage represented by the reduction in biological markers, which are closely related to the severity of withdrawal symptoms.