Cited by 371Schizophrenia research and treatmentNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology ResearchTryptophan and brain disorders

Oxidative stress-driven parvalbumin interneuron impairment as a common mechanism in models of schizophrenia

Open access
Steullet, P, Cabungcal, J-H, Coyle, J, Didriksen, M, Gill, K, Grace, A A, Hensch, T K, LaMantia, A-S +8 more·2017·Molecular Psychiatry

Abstract

Parvalbumin inhibitory interneurons (PVIs) are crucial for maintaining proper excitatory/inhibitory balance and high-frequency neuronal synchronization. Their activity supports critical developmental trajectories, sensory and cognitive processing, and social behavior. Despite heterogeneity in the etiology across schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder, PVI circuits are altered in these psychiatric disorders. Identifying mechanism(s) underlying PVI deficits is essential to establish treatments targeting in particular cognition. On the basis of published and new data, we propose oxidative stress as a common pathological mechanism leading to PVI impairment in schizophrenia and some forms of autism. A series of animal models carrying genetic and/or environmental risks relevant to diverse etiological aspects of these disorders show PVI deficits to be all accompanied by oxidative stress in the anterior cingulate cortex. Specifically, oxidative stress is negatively correlated with the integrity of PVIs and the extracellular perineuronal net enwrapping these interneurons. Oxidative stress may result from dysregulation of systems typically affected in schizophrenia, including glutamatergic, dopaminergic, immune and antioxidant signaling. As convergent end point, redox dysregulation has successfully been targeted to protect PVIs with antioxidants/redox regulators across several animal models. This opens up new perspectives for the use of antioxidant treatments to be applied to at-risk individuals, in close temporal proximity to environmental impacts known to induce oxidative stress.

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Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This review and new comparative analysis argues that oxidative stress is a common pathological mechanism driving parvalbumin interneuron (PVI) and perineuronal net (PNN) deficits in schizophrenia and some autism models. Across diverse genetic and environmental rodent models, PVI/PNN loss in anterior cingulate cortex was accompanied by oxidative stress, and antioxidant/redox-regulator treatment protected PVIs in several models.

Key findings

  • In the anterior cingulate cortex, increased oxidative stress (8-oxo-dG) was consistently accompanied by reduced PV-immunoreactive cells and WFA-labeled PNNs across many models: 22q11 deletion (+125% 8-oxo-dG, −22% PV-IR cells, −38% PNN), 15q13.3 deletion (+262%, −35%, −45%), FMR1 KO (+307%, −48%, −50%), SRR KO (+410%, −26%, −35%), two-hit poly(I:C)/stress (+190%, −38%, −63%), NVHL rats (+450%, −43%, −55%), and MAM rats (+164%, −44%, −49%).
  • Some models lacked significant oxidative stress and PVI/PNN deficits at baseline: 1q21 deletion and GRIN2A KO mice; GCLM KO mice showed small oxidative stress (+53% 8-oxo-dG) but no PVI/PNN deficit. However, GRIN2A KO and GCLM KO mice became susceptible to early postnatal oxidative challenge (GBR), showing long-lasting oxidative stress and PVI/PNN deficits (GRIN2A: +159%, −17%, −36%; GCLM: +127%, −44%, −52%).
  • Across all investigated animal models, increased oxidative stress correlated negatively with relative decreases in PV-IR cells and PV-IR cells with PNN, and decreases in PV-IR cells correlated strongly with PNN decreases.
  • Antioxidants/redox regulators protected PVIs in several models (GBR-treated GCLM mice, ketamine-treated mice, isolated rats, isolated mice with NR1 deletion in forebrain interneurons, socially defeated rats, and NVHL rats), and oxidative stress preceded PVI deficit in hippocampus, supporting a causal role.

Methods

  • The paper reviews published data and presents new comparative immunohistological analyses of oxidative stress and PVI integrity in the anterior cingulate cortex across genetic and/or environmental rodent models relevant to schizophrenia and autism.
  • Oxidative stress was detected with an antibody against 8-oxo-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dG); PVI integrity was assessed with anti-parvalbumin and Wisteria floribunda agglutinin (WFA) to label the perineuronal net.
  • Analyses were performed in late adolescent/young adult animals (2–3 months old); models included human copy number variation mice (22q11, 15q13, 1q21), gene knockouts (FMR1, SRR, GRIN2A), glutathione-deficiency models (GCLM KO, PV:GCLC KO, transient GSH depletion), gene–environment interaction models, a two-hit immune/stress model, and NVHL and MAM rat models.

Limitations

  • The paper states that the hypothesis should be further tested in other models, that the mechanisms causing oxidative stress are unlikely to be similar across all models, and that the analysis focused on prefrontal cortex although other brain regions may be affected.
  • The paper states that preventive antioxidant intervention will require reliable biomarkers for brain oxidative stress/redox dysregulation and PVI function in high-risk individuals.
  • Evident from the text: much of the evidence is correlational across models, with causal support coming mainly from antioxidant rescue and temporal precedence in some models rather than all; no human clinical trial data are presented.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1038/mp.2017.47

Cites

118 of 118 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

0 of 28 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Findingcitation

    Redox dysregulation has successfully been targeted to protect PVIs with antioxidants/redox regulators across several animal models.

    “As convergent end point, redox dysregulation has successfully been targeted to protect PVIs with antioxidants/redox regulators across several animal models.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 6 sources checked
    • cites [39] Cabungcal JH, Steullet P, Kraftsik R, Cuenod M, Do KQ . Early-life insults impair parvalbumin interneurons via oxidative stress: reversal by N-acetylcysteine. Biol Psychiatry 2013; 73: 574–582. source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [37] Behrens MM, Ali SS, Dao DN, Lucero J, Shekhtman G, Quick KL et al. Ketamine-induced loss of phenotype of fast-spiking interneurons is mediated by NADPH-oxidase. Science 2007; 318: 1645–1647. source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [23] Schiavone S, Sorce S, Dubois-Dauphin M, Jaquet V, Colaianna M, Zotti M et al. Involvement of NOX2 in the development of behavioral and pathologic alterations in isolated rats. Biol Psychiatry 2009; 66: 384–392. source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [83] Jiang Z, Rompala GR, Zhang S, Cowell RM, Nakazawa K . Social isolation exacerbates schizophrenia-like phenotypes via oxidative stress in cortical interneurons. Biol Psychiatry 2013; 73: 1024–1034. source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [84] Bouvier E, Brouillard F, Molet J, Claverie D, Cabungcal JH, Cresto N et al. Nrf2-dependent persistent oxidative stress results in stress-induced vulnerability to depression. Mol Psychiatry 2016 advance online publication, 20 September 2016; doi:10.1038/mp.2016.144. source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [41] Cabungcal JH, Counotte DS, Lewis EM, Tejeda HA, Piantadosi P, Pollock C et al. Juvenile antioxidant treatment prevents adult deficits in a developmental model of schizophrenia. Neuron 2014; 83: 1073–1084. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Findingown data

    A series of animal models carrying genetic and/or environmental risks relevant to schizophrenia and ASD show PVI deficits all accompanied by oxidative stress in the anterior cingulate cortex.

    “A series of animal models carrying genetic and/or environmental risks relevant to diverse etiological aspects of these disorders show PVI deficits to be all accompanied by oxidative stress in the anterior cingulate cortex.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingnone given

    Oxidative stress is negatively correlated with the integrity of PVIs and the extracellular perineuronal net enwrapping these interneurons.

    “Specifically, oxidative stress is negatively correlated with the integrity of PVIs and the extracellular perineuronal net enwrapping these interneurons.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Overall, PVI deficit in the ACC was in all cases accompanied by oxidative stress.

    “Overall, our analysis remarkably demonstrates that PVI deficit in the ACC was in all cases accompanied by oxidative stress.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Considering all investigated animal models, increased oxidative stress correlated negatively with the relative decreased number of PV-IR cells or PV-IR cells with PNN.

    “Considering all investigated animal models, increased oxidative stress correlated negatively with the relative decreased number of PV-IR cells or PV-IR cells with PNN (Figure 1b), suggesting a direct link between oxidative stress and PVI anomalies.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims. 4
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 3
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Shank1 and Shank3B knockout mice show a reduced number of PV-IR cells but no deficit in WFA-labeled perineuronal nets in the somatosensory cortex.

    “Moreover, Shank1 and Shank3B KO mice show a reduced number of PV-IR cells but no deficit in WFA-labeled PNN in the somatosensory cortex.27”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [27] Filice F, Vorckel KJ, Sungur AO, Wohr M, Schwaller B . Reduction in parvalbumin expression not loss of the parvalbumin-expressing GABA interneuron subpopulation in genetic parvalbumin and shank mouse models of autism. Mol Brain 2016; 9: 10. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Such treatment could improve cognitive processing and ameliorate general functioning of patients.

    “Knowing the role of PVIs in cognition and social behavior, this could improve cognitive processing and ameliorate general functioning of patients.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: Animal models relevant to schizophrenia and some forms of ASD are valid models of the corresponding human disorders.
    • Rests on an assumption: PVIs play a role in cognition and social behavior.
    • Rests on an assumption: Findings in animal models about antioxidant effects on PVI integrity translate to human patients.
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S1 (asserted). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation

    Redox dysregulation/oxidative stress halts normal PVI maturation in the prefrontal cortex without causing their death, possibly via epigenetic mechanisms.

    “Based on the fact that a peripubertal antioxidant treatment can abolish oxidative stress and rescue PVI/PNN deficit in the NVHL rat model,41 we propose a hypothesis in which redox dysregulation/oxidative stress halts normal PVI maturation in the prefrontal cortex without causing their death,82 possibly via epigenetic mechanisms.102, 103”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 4 sources checked
    • cites [41] Cabungcal JH, Counotte DS, Lewis EM, Tejeda HA, Piantadosi P, Pollock C et al. Juvenile antioxidant treatment prevents adult deficits in a developmental model of schizophrenia. Neuron 2014; 83: 1073–1084. source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [82] Powell SB, Sejnowski TJ, Behrens MM . Behavioral and neurochemical consequences of cortical oxidative stress on parvalbumin-interneuron maturation in rodent models of schizophrenia. Neuropharmacology 2012; 62: 1322–1331. source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [102] Fachim HA, Srisawat U, Dalton CF, Harte MK, Marsh S, Neill JC et al. Subchronic administration of phencyclidine produces hypermethylation in the parvalbumin gene promoter in rat brain. Epigenomics 2016; 8: 1179–1183. source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [103] Morishita H, Kundakovic M, Bicks L, Mitchell A, Akbarian S . Interneuron epigenomes during the critical period of cortical plasticity: Implications for schizophrenia. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2015; 124: 104–110. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S1 (asserted), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Abnormal PVI-associated networks in schizophrenia and ASD has a neurodevelopmental origin and implicates redox dysregulation/oxidative stress.

    “Our hypothesis that abnormal PVI-associated networks in schizophrenia and ASD has a neurodevelopmental origin and implicates redox dysregulation/oxidative stress should be however further tested in other models.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
4 of 4
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Animal models relevant to schizophrenia and some forms of ASD are valid models of the corresponding human disorders.

    “Redox dysregulation/oxidative stress is a common pathological mechanism affecting prefrontal PVIs during postnatal maturation in a strikingly diversified number of models relevant to schizophrenia and some forms of ASD.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    PVIs play a role in cognition and social behavior.

    “Knowing the role of PVIs in cognition and social behavior”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Findings in animal models about antioxidant effects on PVI integrity translate to human patients.

    “The fact that peri-adolescent administration of antioxidants can restore or protect PVI integrity in some animal models provides a strong support that early antioxidant-based treatments might be beneficial to PVI-associated networks.”
3 of 3

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

  • In animal models with no change in oxidative stress, PV-positive interneuron number was unchanged.

    “Conversely, in animal models where no change in oxidative stress was observed, PV-positive interneuron number was not changed [92].”

    From Parvalbumin interneuron vulnerability and brain disorders (2021) · cites this paper as [92]

  • In rodent models of brain disorders, higher oxidative stress consistently correlates with fewer PV-positive cortical interneurons.

    “In rodent models that recapitulate aspects of brain disorders, higher oxidative stress consistently correlates with decreased PV-positive cortical interneurons [92,93].”

    From Parvalbumin interneuron vulnerability and brain disorders (2021) · cites this paper as [92]

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Authors
Steullet, P., Cabungcal, J.-H., Coyle, J., Didriksen, M., Gill, K., Grace, A. A., Hensch, T. K., LaMantia, A.-S., Lindemann, L., Maynard, T. M., Meyer, U., Morishita, H., O'Donnell, P., Puhl, M., Cuenod, M., & Do, K. Q.
Affiliations
  • Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CH)
  • Harvard University (US)
  • Lundbeck (Denmark) (DK)
  • University of Pittsburgh (US)
  • Boston Children's Hospital (US)
  • George Washington University (US)
  • F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG (CH)
  • University of Zurich (CH)
Corresponding author
Do, K Q
Venue
Molecular Psychiatry
Published
2017-03-21
Volume
22
Issue
7
Pages
936-943
ISSN
  • 1359-4184 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-5578
OpenAlex
W2603460853
Cited by
360
References
118
Citations by year
2026: 32 · 2025: 28 · 2024: 38 · 2023: 36 · 2022: 44 · 2021: 62 · 2020: 46 · 2019: 34 · 2018: 30 · 2017: 10
FWCI
26.94
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Molecular Psychiatry (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • SERVAL (Université de Lausanne) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (acceptedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • IRIS (submittedVersion)
  • Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich)
Funders
  • National Science Foundation
  • Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung (125759, 310030_135736/1, 116689, 310030)
  • Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois
  • National Institute of Mental Health (P50MH094271, R21MH106919)
  • National Eye Institute (R21EY026702, R01EY026053, R01EY024918)
  • Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (R01HD042182)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Schizophrenia research and treatment
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Biological Psychiatry › Tryptophan and brain disorders
Keywords
parvalbumin interneurons, oxidative stress, schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder, anterior cingulate cortex, perineuronal nets, redox dysregulation, antioxidant treatment, glutamatergic signaling, dopaminergic signaling, immune signaling, excitation-inhibition balance, neuronal synchronization, animal models of psychiatric disorders
MeSH terms
Autism Spectrum Disorder, Animals, Disease Models, Animal, Gyrus Cinguli, Humans, Interneurons, Oxidation-Reduction, Parvalbumins, Schizophrenia, Oxidative Stress, Mice

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