MicroRNA Regulates Early-Life Stress–Induced Depressive Behavior via Serotonin Signaling in a Sex-Dependent Manner
Introduction The underlying neurobiology of early-life stress (ELS)-induced major depressive disorder (MDD) is not clearly understood. miRNAs, a subclass of noncoding RNAs, are estimated to regulate 20-90% of genes in the genome. Previous studies identify differences in miRNA expression following M...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Cambridge University Press
2023-03-01
|
| Series: | European Psychiatry |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933823012683/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1827754034766807040 |
|---|---|
| author | Y. Dwivedi |
| author_facet | Y. Dwivedi |
| author_sort | Y. Dwivedi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Introduction
The underlying neurobiology of early-life stress (ELS)-induced major depressive disorder (MDD) is not clearly understood. miRNAs, a subclass of noncoding RNAs, are estimated to regulate 20-90% of genes in the genome. Previous studies identify differences in miRNA expression following MDD and ELS, but there is limited research on a direct link between changes in serotonin signaling and miRNAs in response to ELS.
Objectives
In this study, we used MS and environmental enrichment to study serotonin signaling in the PFC and its regulation by miRNAs. Because women are more likely to develop MDD, but there is no strong evidence of sex differences in the experience of ELS, we were interested to test for sex differences. We hypothesized that genes in the serotonin signaling pathway would be altered by ELS and potentially recovered by enrichment.
Methods
We used maternal separation (MS) as a rodent model of ELS and tested whether microRNAs (miRNAs) target serotonin genes to regulate ELS-induced depression-like behavior and whether this effect is sex dependent. We also examined whether environmental enrichment prevents susceptibility to depression- and anxiety-like behavior following MS and whether enrichment effects are mediated through serotonin genes and their corresponding miRNAs.
Results
MS decreased sucrose preference, which was reversed by enrichment. Males also exhibited greater changes in forced swim climbing and escape latency tests only following enrichment. Slc6a4 and Htr1a were upregulated in the frontal cortex following MS. In male MS rats, enrichment slightly reversed Htr1a expression to levels similar to control rats. miR-200a-3p and miR-322-5p, which target SLC6A4, were decreased by MS, but not significantly. An HTR1A-targeting miRNA, miR-320-5p, was also downregulated by MS and showed slight reversal by enrichment in male animals. miR-320-5p targeting of Htr1a was validated in vitro using SHSY neuroblastoma cell lines.
Conclusions
Altogether, this study implicates miRNA interaction with the serotonin pathway in ELS-induced susceptibility to depression-related reward deficits. Furthermore, because of its recovery by enrichment in males, miR-320 may represent a viable sex-specific target for reward-related deficits in major depressive disorder.
Disclosure of Interest
None Declared |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:44:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-edac19ef47b74ce389a3e74f590c71d5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0924-9338 1778-3585 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:44:44Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-edac19ef47b74ce389a3e74f590c71d52023-11-17T05:07:56ZengCambridge University PressEuropean Psychiatry0924-93381778-35852023-03-0166S607S60710.1192/j.eurpsy.2023.1268MicroRNA Regulates Early-Life Stress–Induced Depressive Behavior via Serotonin Signaling in a Sex-Dependent MannerY. Dwivedi0Psychiatry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, United States Introduction The underlying neurobiology of early-life stress (ELS)-induced major depressive disorder (MDD) is not clearly understood. miRNAs, a subclass of noncoding RNAs, are estimated to regulate 20-90% of genes in the genome. Previous studies identify differences in miRNA expression following MDD and ELS, but there is limited research on a direct link between changes in serotonin signaling and miRNAs in response to ELS. Objectives In this study, we used MS and environmental enrichment to study serotonin signaling in the PFC and its regulation by miRNAs. Because women are more likely to develop MDD, but there is no strong evidence of sex differences in the experience of ELS, we were interested to test for sex differences. We hypothesized that genes in the serotonin signaling pathway would be altered by ELS and potentially recovered by enrichment. Methods We used maternal separation (MS) as a rodent model of ELS and tested whether microRNAs (miRNAs) target serotonin genes to regulate ELS-induced depression-like behavior and whether this effect is sex dependent. We also examined whether environmental enrichment prevents susceptibility to depression- and anxiety-like behavior following MS and whether enrichment effects are mediated through serotonin genes and their corresponding miRNAs. Results MS decreased sucrose preference, which was reversed by enrichment. Males also exhibited greater changes in forced swim climbing and escape latency tests only following enrichment. Slc6a4 and Htr1a were upregulated in the frontal cortex following MS. In male MS rats, enrichment slightly reversed Htr1a expression to levels similar to control rats. miR-200a-3p and miR-322-5p, which target SLC6A4, were decreased by MS, but not significantly. An HTR1A-targeting miRNA, miR-320-5p, was also downregulated by MS and showed slight reversal by enrichment in male animals. miR-320-5p targeting of Htr1a was validated in vitro using SHSY neuroblastoma cell lines. Conclusions Altogether, this study implicates miRNA interaction with the serotonin pathway in ELS-induced susceptibility to depression-related reward deficits. Furthermore, because of its recovery by enrichment in males, miR-320 may represent a viable sex-specific target for reward-related deficits in major depressive disorder. Disclosure of Interest None Declaredhttps://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933823012683/type/journal_article |
| spellingShingle | Y. Dwivedi MicroRNA Regulates Early-Life Stress–Induced Depressive Behavior via Serotonin Signaling in a Sex-Dependent Manner European Psychiatry |
| title | MicroRNA Regulates Early-Life Stress–Induced Depressive Behavior via Serotonin Signaling in a Sex-Dependent Manner |
| title_full | MicroRNA Regulates Early-Life Stress–Induced Depressive Behavior via Serotonin Signaling in a Sex-Dependent Manner |
| title_fullStr | MicroRNA Regulates Early-Life Stress–Induced Depressive Behavior via Serotonin Signaling in a Sex-Dependent Manner |
| title_full_unstemmed | MicroRNA Regulates Early-Life Stress–Induced Depressive Behavior via Serotonin Signaling in a Sex-Dependent Manner |
| title_short | MicroRNA Regulates Early-Life Stress–Induced Depressive Behavior via Serotonin Signaling in a Sex-Dependent Manner |
| title_sort | microrna regulates early life stress induced depressive behavior via serotonin signaling in a sex dependent manner |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933823012683/type/journal_article |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ydwivedi micrornaregulatesearlylifestressinduceddepressivebehaviorviaserotoninsignalinginasexdependentmanner |