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Social isolation induces neuroinflammation and microglia overactivation, while dihydromyricetin prevents and improves them.
Al Omran, Alzahra J; Shao, Amy S; Watanabe, Saki; Zhang, Zeyu; Zhang, Jifeng; Xue, Chen; Watanabe, Junji; Davies, Daryl L; Shao, Xuesi M; Liang, Jing.
  • Al Omran AJ; Titus Family Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Southern California School of Pharmacy, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA.
  • Shao AS; Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, 49007, USA.
  • Watanabe S; Titus Family Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Southern California School of Pharmacy, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA.
  • Zhang Z; Translational Research Lab, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA.
  • Zhang J; Titus Family Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Southern California School of Pharmacy, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA.
  • Xue C; Titus Family Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Southern California School of Pharmacy, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA.
  • Watanabe J; Translational Research Lab, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA.
  • Davies DL; Titus Family Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Southern California School of Pharmacy, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA.
  • Shao XM; Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
  • Liang J; Titus Family Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Southern California School of Pharmacy, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA. jliang1@usc.edu.
J Neuroinflammation ; 19(1): 2, 2022 Jan 04.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1603365
ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent mental illnesses in the U.S. and are estimated to consume one-third of the country's mental health treatment cost. Although anxiolytic therapies are available, many patients still exhibit treatment resistance, relapse, or substantial side effects. Further, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and stay-at-home order, social isolation, fear of the pandemic, and unprecedented times, the incidence of anxiety has dramatically increased. Previously, we have demonstrated dihydromyricetin (DHM), the major bioactive flavonoid extracted from Ampelopsis grossedentata, exhibits anxiolytic properties in a mouse model of social isolation-induced anxiety. Because GABAergic transmission modulates the immune system in addition to the inhibitory signal transmission, we investigated the effects of short-term social isolation on the neuroimmune system.

METHODS:

Eight-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were housed under absolute social isolation for 4 weeks. The anxiety-like behaviors after DHM treatment were examined using elevated plus-maze and open field behavioral tests. Gephyrin protein expression, microglial profile changes, NF-κB pathway activation, cytokine level, and serum corticosterone were measured.

RESULTS:

Socially isolated mice showed increased anxiety levels, reduced exploratory behaviors, and reduced gephyrin levels. Also, a dynamic alteration in hippocampal microglia were detected illustrated as a decline in microglia number and overactivation as determined by significant morphological changes including decreases in lacunarity, perimeter, and cell size and increase in cell density. Moreover, social isolation induced an increase in serum corticosterone level and activation in NF-κB pathway. Notably, DHM treatment counteracted these changes.

CONCLUSION:

The results suggest that social isolation contributes to neuroinflammation, while DHM has the ability to improve neuroinflammation induced by anxiety.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Social Isolation / Microglia / Inflammation Mediators / Flavonols Type of study: Observational study / Qualitative research Limits: Animals Language: English Journal: J Neuroinflammation Journal subject: Neurology Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S12974-021-02368-9

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Social Isolation / Microglia / Inflammation Mediators / Flavonols Type of study: Observational study / Qualitative research Limits: Animals Language: English Journal: J Neuroinflammation Journal subject: Neurology Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S12974-021-02368-9