scholarly journals Mechanistic insights on metabolic dysfunction in PTSD: Role of glucocorticoid receptor sensitivity and energy deficit

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pramod R. Somvanshi ◽  
Synthia H. Mellon ◽  
Janine D. Flory ◽  
Duna Abu-Amara ◽  
Owen M. Wolkowitz ◽  
...  

AbstractPTSD is associated with metabolic comorbidities; however it is not clear how the neuroendocrine disturbances affect metabolism. To analyze this we employed a systems biological approach using an integrated mathematical model of metabolism, HPA axis and inflammation. We combined the metabolomics, neuroendocrine, clinical lab and cytokine data from combat-exposed veterans with and without PTSD, to characterize the differences in regulatory effects. We used the pattern of fold change in metabolites representing pathway level differences as reference for metabolic control analysis (MCA) using the model. MCA revealed parameters constituting the HPA axis, inflammation and GPCR pathway that yielded metabolic dysfunction consistent with PTSD. To support this, we performed causal analysis between regulatory components and the significantly different metabolites in our sample. Causal inference revealed that the changes in glucocorticoid receptor sensitivity were mechanistically associated with metabolic dysfunction and the effects were jointly mediated by insulin resistance, inflammation, oxidative stress and energy deficit.

2019 ◽  
Vol 317 (5) ◽  
pp. E879-E898 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pramod R. Somvanshi ◽  
Synthia H. Mellon ◽  
Janine D. Flory ◽  
Duna Abu-Amara ◽  
Owen M. Wolkowitz ◽  
...  

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with neuroendocrine alterations and metabolic abnormalities; however, how metabolism is affected by neuroendocrine disturbances is unclear. The data from combat-exposed veterans with PTSD show increased glycolysis to lactate flux, reduced TCA cycle flux, impaired amino acid and lipid metabolism, insulin resistance, inflammation, and hypersensitive hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. To analyze whether the co-occurrence of multiple metabolic abnormalities is independent or arises from an underlying regulatory defect, we employed a systems biological approach using an integrated mathematical model and multiomic analysis. The models for hepatic metabolism, HPA axis, inflammation, and regulatory signaling were integrated to perform metabolic control analysis (MCA) with respect to the observations from our clinical data. We combined the metabolomics, neuroendocrine, clinical laboratory, and cytokine data from combat-exposed veterans with and without PTSD to characterize the differences in regulatory effects. MCA revealed mechanistic association of the HPA axis and inflammation with metabolic dysfunction consistent with PTSD. This was supported by the data using correlational and causal analysis that revealed significant associations between cortisol suppression, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, γ-glutamyltransferase, hypoxanthine, and several metabolites. Causal mediation analysis indicates that the effects of enhanced glucocorticoid receptor sensitivity (GRS) on glycolytic pathway, gluconeogenic and branched-chain amino acids, triglycerides, and hepatic function are jointly mediated by inflammation, insulin resistance, oxidative stress, and energy deficit. Our analysis suggests that the interventions to normalize GRS and inflammation may help to manage features of metabolic dysfunction in PTSD.


PLoS Biology ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. e2002690 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tania Carrillo-Roa ◽  
Christiana Labermaier ◽  
Peter Weber ◽  
David P. Herzog ◽  
Caleb Lareau ◽  
...  

2005 ◽  
Vol 289 (5) ◽  
pp. E857-E863 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anastasia Kariagina ◽  
Svetlana Zonis ◽  
Mahta Afkhami ◽  
Dmitry Romanenko ◽  
Vera Chesnokova

Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is a pleiotropic cytokine belonging to the gp130 family. LIF is induced peripherally and within the brain during inflammatory or chronic autoimmune diseases and is a potent stimulator of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Here we investigated the role of LIF in mediating glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression in the HPA axis. LIF treatment (3 μg/mouse, ip) markedly decreased GR mRNA levels in murine hypothalamus (5-fold, P < 0.01) and pituitary (1.7-fold, P < 0.01) and downregulated GR protein levels. LIF decreased GR expression in murine corticotroph cell line AtT20 within 2 h, and this effect was sustained for 8 h after treatment. LIF-induced GR mRNA reduction was abrogated in AtT20 cells overexpressing dominant-negative mutants of STAT3, indicating that intact JAK-STAT signaling is required to mediate LIF effects on GR expression. Conversely, mice with LIF deficiency exhibited increased GR mRNA levels in the hypothalamus and pituitary (3.5- and 3.5-fold, respectively; P < 0.01 for both) and increased GR protein expression when compared with wild-type littermates. The suppressive effects of dexamethasone on GR were more pronounced in LIF-null animals. These data suggest that LIF maintains the HPA axis activation by decreasing GR expression and raise the possibility that LIF might contribute to the development of central glucocorticoid resistance during inflammation.


Appetite ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 57 ◽  
pp. S12
Author(s):  
A.D. De Kloet ◽  
E.G. Krause ◽  
M.B. Solomon ◽  
J.N. Flak ◽  
K.A. Scott ◽  
...  

Endocrinology ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 149 (11) ◽  
pp. 5482-5490 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy R. Furay ◽  
Amy E. Bruestle ◽  
James P. Herman

Previous work has implicated the forebrain glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in feedback regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis. The present series of experiments used male mice with a targeted forebrain-specific GR knockout (in which forebrain includes the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and basolateral amygdala) to determine the role of forebrain GR in HPA axis regulation after stress. The data indicate that the forebrain GR is necessary for maintaining basal regulation of corticosterone secretion in the morning, confirming its role in HPA axis regulation. Our data further indicate that the forebrain GR is necessary for negative feedback after both mild and robust acute psychogenic stressors but not hypoxia, a systemic stressor. In contrast, forebrain-specific GR knockout and control mice exhibit equivalent HPA axis hyperactivity and facilitation after chronic variable stress, suggesting that changes in forebrain GR are not essential for chronic stress-induced pathology. These studies provide novel and definitive evidence that the forebrain GR selectively contributes negative feedback regulation of HPA axis responses to psychogenic stressors. Moreover, the data indicate that chronic stress-induced alterations in HPA axis function are mediated by mechanisms independent of the forebrain GR. Overall, the data are consistent with an essential role of the forebrain GR in coordinating endocrine responses to stimuli of a psychological origin.


2019 ◽  
Vol 89 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 80-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliana Soares Severo ◽  
Jennifer Beatriz Silva Morais ◽  
Taynáh Emannuelle Coelho de Freitas ◽  
Ana Letícia Pereira Andrade ◽  
Mayara Monte Feitosa ◽  
...  

Abstract. Thyroid hormones play an important role in body homeostasis by facilitating metabolism of lipids and glucose, regulating metabolic adaptations, responding to changes in energy intake, and controlling thermogenesis. Proper metabolism and action of these hormones requires the participation of various nutrients. Among them is zinc, whose interaction with thyroid hormones is complex. It is known to regulate both the synthesis and mechanism of action of these hormones. In the present review, we aim to shed light on the regulatory effects of zinc on thyroid hormones. Scientific evidence shows that zinc plays a key role in the metabolism of thyroid hormones, specifically by regulating deiodinases enzymes activity, thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) synthesis, as well as by modulating the structures of essential transcription factors involved in the synthesis of thyroid hormones. Serum concentrations of zinc also appear to influence the levels of serum T3, T4 and TSH. In addition, studies have shown that Zinc transporters (ZnTs) are present in the hypothalamus, pituitary and thyroid, but their functions remain unknown. Therefore, it is important to further investigate the roles of zinc in regulation of thyroid hormones metabolism, and their importance in the treatment of several diseases associated with thyroid gland dysfunction.


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