Dopamine transporter dysfunction in Han Chinese people with chronic methamphetamine dependence after a short-term abstinence

Single-photon emission-computed tomography (SPECT) after the administration of ^99mTc-TRODAT-1 was performed on healthy subjects and subjects with methamphetamine (METH)dependence at time 1 (T1) after 24–48 h of abstinence, time 2 (T2) after 2 weeks of abstinence, and time 3 (T3) after 4 weeks of abstinence. In contrast to values in controls, the values of the striatal DAT specific uptake ratios (SURs) in subjects with METH dependence were significantly lower at T1 (n=25), T2 (n=9), and T3 (n=8); a mild increase in SURs was observed at T2 and T3, but values were still significantly lower than those in controls. In subjects with METH dependence, there was a trend for a negative correlation of striatal DAT SURs and craving for METH at T1. METH craving, anxiety and depression scores significantly decreased from T1 to T2 to T3. We conclude that Han Chinese people with METH dependence experience significant striatal DAT dysfunction, and that these changes may be mildly reversible after 4 weeks of abstinence, but that DAT levels still remain significantly lower than those in healthy subjects. The mild recovery of striatal DAT may parallel improvements in craving, anxiety and depression.     

In vivo evidence of methamphetamine induced attenuation of brain tissue oxygenation as measured by EPR oximetry

Abuse of methamphetamine (METH) is a major and significant societal problem in the US, as a number of studies have suggested that METH is associated with increased cerebrovascular events, hemorrhage or vasospasm. Although cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in METH-induced toxicity are not completely understood, changes in brain O₂ may play an important role and contribute to METH-induced neurotoxicity including dopaminergic receptor degradation. Given that O₂ is the terminal electron acceptor for many enzymes that are important in brain function, the impact of METH on brain tissue pO₂in vivo remains largely uncharacterized. This study investigated striatal tissue pO₂ changes in male C57BL/6 mice (16–20 g) following METH administration using EPR oximetry, a highly sensitive modality to measure pO₂in vivo, in situ and in real time. We demonstrate that 20 min after a single injection of METH (8 mg/kg i.v.), the striatal pO₂ was reduced to 81% of the pretreatment level and exposure to METH for 3 consecutive days further attenuated striatal pO₂ to 64%. More importantly, pO₂ did not recover fully to control levels even 24 h after administration of a single dose of METH and continual exposure to METH exacerbates the condition. We also show a reduction in cerebral blood flow associated with a decreased brain pO₂ indicating an ischemic condition. Our findings suggests that administration of METH can attenuate brain tissue pO₂, which may lead to hypoxic insult, thus a risk factor for METH-induced brain injury and the development of stroke in young adults.     

Interleukin 1 receptor contributes to methamphetamine- and sleep deprivation-induced hypersomnolence

Methamphetamine-induced wakefulness is dependent on monoamine transporter blockade. Subsequent to methamphetamine-induced wakefulness, the amount of time spent asleep and the depth of sleep are increased relative to baseline sleep. The mechanisms that drive methamphetamine-induced hypersomnolence are not fully understood. We recently observed that methamphetamine exposure elevates the expression of the sleep-promoting cytokine, interleukin-1β in CD11b-positive monocytes within the brain. Here, we sought to determine whether activation of the interleukin 1 receptor (IL1R) drives the increase in the depth and amount of sleep that occurs subsequent to methamphetamine-induced wakefulness. IL1R-deficient mice and wild type control mice were subjected to systemic methamphetamine (1 and 2mg/kg) and saline treatments. The wake-promoting effect of methamphetamine was modestly potentiated by IL1R-deficiency. Additionally, the increase in time spent in NREMS subsequent to methamphetamine-induced wakefulness in wild type mice was abolished in IL1R-deficient mice. The increase in time spent asleep after 3h of behaviorally enforced wakefulness was also abolished in IL1R-deficient mice. Increases in EEG slow wave activity triggered by methamphetamine and sleep deprivation were of equal magnitude in IL1R-deficient and wild type mice. These data demonstrate that IL1R activation contributes to hypersomnolence that occurs after sleep loss, whether that sleep loss is triggered pharmacologically by methamphetamine or through behavioral sleep deprivation.     

Zinc protects SK-N-SH cells from methamphetamine-induced α-synuclein expression

Methamphetamine (METH) is a well-known drug of abuse and neurotoxin that may cause temporary or permanent disturbances in the dopaminergic systems of the brain, predisposing individuals to Parkinsonism. Previously, we have shown that METH causes dopaminergic cell death by increasing the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and by depleting cellular ATP levels. These effects were abolished by pretreatment with ZnCl₂ which enhanced expression of the zinc binding protein, metallothionein. In the present study, the effects of ZnCl₂ on α-synuclein expression were examined further in METH-treated SK-N-SH cells in culture. We show that METH significantly increased α-synuclein expression in a dose-dependent manner after inducing oxidative stress. Pretreatment with ZnCl₂ (50 μM) reversed this stimulatory effect. We propose that zinc mediates this neuroprotective response via the production of metallothionein.     

METH1在酵母双杂交系统中的表达及对报告基因激活作用的检测

目的通过观察血管生成抑制因子METH1的cDNA片段在酵母双杂交中的表达及检测其对报告基因有无激活作用，为进一步明确METHI抑制增生性瘢痕的分子机制奠定基础。方法采用酵母双杂交Ga14系统3，经PCR扩增子METH1的cDNA片段，分别克隆入pUC19质粒，经测序正确后。再分别亚克隆入酵母双杂交诱饵载体pGBKT7中。将重组质粒导入酵母菌AH109，检测其表达产物在酵母细胞中对报告基因的激活作用。结果成功获得METH1的cDNA片段，该片段所表达的蛋白对酵母菌AH109无毒性，且对报告基因无激活作用。结论血管生成抑制因子METH1蛋白活性区在酵母双杂交系统中的表达产物。可作为诱饵蛋白进行相互作用蛋白的筛选研究。     

甲基苯丙胺通过L型钙通道致皮层神经元病理性蛋白APP及p⁃Tau过表达

目的：探讨甲基苯丙胺（methamphetamine,METH）暴露引起的阿尔兹海默病（Alzheimer’s disease,AD）样改变,阐述L型钙通道在该病理样改变中的作用。方法：借助原代培养的神经元,利用Western blot法,观察METH（0、30、100、300、1 000 μmol/L）暴露后引起AD样病理性蛋白淀粉样蛋白前体（amyloid precursor protein,APP）、磷酸化Tau蛋白（p?Tau）的表达,并观察钙通道抑制剂硝苯地平作用后APP、p?Tau表达的改变。结果：APP和p?Tau的表达随METH作用浓度和时间的增加而增高,具有剂量和时间依赖性。钙通道抑制剂硝苯地平（nifedipine,NIF）预先孵育后,METH引起的AD样改变明显改善。结论：METH暴露可引起AD病理性改变,L型钙通道抑制剂可部分逆转上述改变,因而L型钙通道可能作为对METH作用的干预靶点,具有潜在的干预价值。     

METH1在酵母双杂交系统中的表达及对报告基因激活作用的检测

目的通过观察血管生成抑制因子METH1的cDNA片段在酵母双杂交中的表达及检测其对报告基因有无激活作用,为进一步明确METH1抑制增生性瘢痕的分子机制奠定基础。方法采用酵母双杂交Gal4系统3,经PCR扩增子METH1的cDNA片段,分别克隆入pUC19质粒,经测序正确后,再分别亚克隆入酵母双杂交诱饵载体pGBKT7中。将重组质粒导入酵母菌AH109,检测其表达产物在酵母细胞中对报告基因的激活作用。结果成功获得METH1的cDNA片段,该片段所表达的蛋白对酵母菌AH109无毒性,且对报告基因无激活作用。结论血管生成抑制因子METH1蛋白活性区在酵母双杂交系统中的表达产物,可作为诱饵蛋白进行相互作用蛋白的筛选研究。     

pCDNA3.0载体介导METH1基因对人脐静脉内皮细胞生长的抑制

目的研究METH1基因对人脐静脉内皮细胞(HUVEC)体外生长的抑制作用。方法构建真核表达载体pCDNA3.0-METH1,转染肝癌细胞系HepG2中。体外扩增HUVEC,采用MTT法检测HepG2/METH1及HepG2培养的上清对HUVEC增殖的影响。结果成功的构建了真核表达载体pCDNA3.0-METH1,并在HepG2中稳定表达。MTT法结果显示与对照组相比,HepG2/METH1组对HUVEC增殖有明显的抑制作用,并呈剂量依赖性(P<0.01);而HepG2组对HUVEC增殖有明显的促进作用,呈剂量依赖性(P<0.05)。结论pCDNA3.0-METH1对HUVEC体外生长具有明显的抑制作用,提示METH1对瘢痕内血管的抑制治疗具有潜在的临床应用价值。     

Fluoro-Ruby labeling prior to an amphetamine neurotoxic insult shows a definitive massive loss of dopaminergic terminals and axons in the caudate-putamen

Fluoro-Ruby (FR) was injected into the substantia nigra (SNc) to label dopaminergic axons and terminals in the caudate putamen (CPu) of rats 7 days prior to a neurotoxic d-amphetamine (AMPH) exposure. Three days after AMPH exposure, a massive loss in the TH immunoreactive (TH⁺) axons and terminals was seen in the CPu. The FR-labeled (FR⁺) axons and terminals in the CPu were greatly diminished with those remaining being enlarged or swollen after AMPH. Fluoro-Jade C (FJ-C) labeling was used to verify AMPH-induced axonal and terminal degeneration. This study demonstrates that fluorescent anterograde tract tracers can be used to show the subsequent axonal and terminal degeneration after systemic exposures to toxins and provides direct evidence that CPu axons and terminals from SNc dopaminergic neurons can be destroyed after neurotoxic exposure to AMPH.     

Role of mu-opioid receptor in modulation of preproenkephalin mRNA expression and opioid and dopamine receptor binding in methamphetamine-sensitized mice

We examined mRNA expression of preproenkephalin (PPE), a precursor of the endogenous opioid peptide enkephalin, and ligand binding to opioid and dopamine receptors in the striatum and nucleus accumbens in methamphetamine (METH)-sensitized mu-opioid receptor (mu-OR) knockout mice and their wild-type controls. Animals received daily intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of METH (0, 0.625, 2.5, or 10 mg/kg) for 7 consecutive days to induce sensitization. Brain tissues were taken for biochemical analysis on experimental day 11 (4 days after the last injection). Expression of PPE mRNA and ligand binding were determined by in situ hybridization and autoradiography, respectively. Results indicate that there is an increase in PPE mRNA expression and a decrease in mu-OR ligand binding in METH-sensitized wild-type mice. These changes were not detected in METH-sensitized mu-OR knockout mice. A significant increase in delta-opioid receptor (delta-OR) ligand binding was found in mu-OR knockout mice. After repeated METH exposure, striatal and nucleus accumbal dopamine D1 receptor binding was decreased in mu-OR knockout mice but was not changed in wild-type mice. D2 receptor ligand binding was increased in wild-type mice and exhibited a biphasic change, with a decrease at 0.625 and 2.5 mg/kg doses of METH and an increase with 10 mg/kg of METH, in mu-OR knockout mice. These findings suggest that the mu-OR is involved in the regulation of METH-induced changes in an endogenous opioid peptide and dopamine receptors.