Cited by 83Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration MechanismsNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology ResearchAlcohol Consumption and Health Effects

Glial gene networks associated with alcohol dependence

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Erickson, Emma K., Blednov, Yuri A., Harris, R. Adron, Mayfield, R. Dayne·2019·Scientific Reports

Abstract

Chronic alcohol abuse alters the molecular structure and function of brain cells. Recent work suggests adaptations made by glial cells, such as astrocytes and microglia, regulate physiological and behavioral changes associated with addiction. Defining how alcohol dependence alters the transcriptome of different cell types is critical for developing the mechanistic hypotheses necessary for a nuanced understanding of cellular signaling in the alcohol-dependent brain. We performed RNA-sequencing on total homogenate and glial cell populations isolated from mouse prefrontal cortex (PFC) following chronic intermittent ethanol vapor exposure (CIE). Compared with total homogenate, we observed unique and robust gene expression changes in astrocytes and microglia in response to CIE. Gene co-expression network analysis revealed biological pathways and hub genes associated with CIE in astrocytes and microglia that may regulate alcohol-dependent phenotypes. Astrocyte identity and synaptic calcium signaling genes were enriched in alcohol-associated astrocyte networks, while TGF-β signaling and inflammatory response genes were disrupted by CIE treatment in microglia gene networks. Genes related to innate immune signaling, specifically interferon pathways, were consistently up-regulated across CIE-exposed astrocytes, microglia, and total homogenate PFC tissue. This study illuminates the cell-specific effects of chronic alcohol exposure and provides novel molecular targets for studying alcohol dependence.

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  • SLC1A3 was downregulated with alcohol consumption in mouse astrocytes but upregulated in the human alcoholic brain.

    “SLC1A3 (also called “ GLAST ”) was downregulated with alcohol consumption in mouse astrocytes (20,21) but upregulated in the human alcoholic brain (39) .”
  • Recent mouse RNA-seq studies on isolated glial cell types also detected more alcohol-related DEGs in astrocytes than in total brain homogenate and microglia.

    “Recent mouse RNA-seq studies on isolated glial cell types also detected more alcohol-related DEGs in astrocytes than in total brain homogenate (20) and microglia (21) .”
  • FAS and MFGE8 showed similar regulation between mouse and human astrocytes.

    “FAS and MFGE8 , however, showed similar regulation between mouse and human astrocytes (21) .”

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Authors
Erickson, E. K., Blednov, Y. A., Harris, R. A., & Mayfield, R. D.
Affiliations
The University of Texas at Austin (US)
Corresponding author
Erickson, Emma K.
Venue
Scientific Reports
Published
2019-07-29
Volume
9
Issue
1
Pages
10949-10949
ISSN
2045-2322 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2966417989
Cited by
83
References
135
Citations by year
2026: 14 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 11 · 2018: 1
FWCI
3.52
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Scientific Reports (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
Funders
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (AA025508, AA025479, AA006399, AA012404)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Alcohol Consumption and Health Effects
Keywords
alcoholism, chronic intermittent ethanol, glial cells, astrocytes, microglia, prefrontal cortex, gene co-expression network, hub genes, TGF-beta signaling, inflammation, interferon signaling, innate immunity
MeSH terms
RNA-Seq, Ethanol, Alcoholism, Animals, Astrocytes, Male, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Prefrontal Cortex, Microglia, Mice, Gene Regulatory Networks, Transcriptome

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