Dataset Information

Small RNA sequencing of postmortem human Brodmann Area 9 and postmortem human blood from Opioid Use Disorder Subjects and Controls in the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Brain Collection

ABSTRACT: This dataset includes samples in the UTHealth Brain Collection (UTHBC) from Grimm et al 2022 "MicroRNA-mRNA networks are dysregulated in opioid use disorder postmortem brain: further evidence for opioid-induced neurovascular alterations ", doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1025346. To understand mechanisms and identify potential targets for intervention in the current crisis of opioid use disorder (OUD), postmortem brains represent an under-utilized resource. To refine previously reported gene signatures of neurobiological alterations in OUD from the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (Brodmann Area 9, BA9), we explored the role of microRNAs (miRNA) as powerful epigenetic regulators of gene function. Building on the growing appreciation that miRNAs can cross the blood-brain barrier, we carried out miRNA profiling in same-subject postmortem samples from BA9 and blood tissues. miRNA-mRNA network analysis showed that even though miRNAs identified in BA9 and blood were fairly distinct, their target genes and corresponding enriched pathways overlapped strongly. Among the dominant enriched biological processes were tissue development and morphogenesis, and MAPK signaling pathways. These findings point to robust, redundant, and systemic opioid-induced miRNA dysregulation with potential functional impact on transcriptomic changes. Further, using correlation network analysis we identified cell-type specific miRNA targets, specifically in astrocytes, neurons, and endothelial cells, associated with OUD transcriptomic dysregulation. Finally, leveraging a collection of control brain transcriptomes from the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) project, we identified correlation of OUD miRNA targets with TGF beta, hypoxia, angiogenesis, coagulation, immune system and inflammatory pathways. These findings support previous reports of neurovascular and immune system alterations as a consequence of opioid abuse and shed new light on miRNA network regulators of cellular response to opioid drugs.

ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens

PROVIDER: GSE221515 | GEO | 2023/02/01

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Introduction: Human-derived induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) models of brain promise to advance our understanding of neurotoxic consequences of drug use. However, how well these models recapitulate the actual genomic landscape and cell function, as well as the drug-induced alterations, remains to be established. New in vitro models of drug exposure are needed to advance our understanding of how to protect or reverse molecular changes related to substance use disorders. Methods: We engineered a novel induced pluripotent stem cell-derived model of neural progenitor cells and neurons from cultured postmortem human skin fibroblasts, and directly compared these to isogenic brain tissue from the donor source. We assessed the maturity of the cell models across differentiation from stem cells to neurons using RNA cell type and maturity deconvolution analyses as well as DNA methylation epigenetic clocks trained on adult and fetal human tissue. As proof-of-concept of this model’s utility for substance use disorder studies, we compared morphine- and cocaine-treated neurons to gene expression signatures in postmortem Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) and Cocaine Use Disorder (CUD) brains, respectively. Results: Within each human subject (N = 2, 2 clones each), brain frontal cortex epigenetic age parallels that of skin fibroblasts and closely approximates the donor’s chronological age; stem cell induction from fibroblast cells effectively sets the epigenetic clock to an embryonic age; and differentiation of stem cells to neural progenitor cells and then to neurons progressively matures the cells via DNA methylation and RNA gene expression readouts. In neurons derived from an individual who died of opioid overdose, morphine treatment induced alterations in gene expression similar to those previously observed in OUD ex-vivo brain tissue, including differential expression of the immediate early gene EGR1, which is known to be dysregulated by opioid use. Discussion: In summary, we introduce an iPSC model generated from human postmortem fibroblasts that can be directly compared to corresponding isogenic brain tissue and can be used to model perturbagen exposure such as that seen in opioid use disorder. Future studies with this and other postmortem-derived brain cellular models, including cerebral organoids, can be an invaluable tool for understanding mechanisms of drug-induced brain alterations.

Project description:Background: Molecular adaptations in the striatum mediated by dopamine (DA) denervation or Levodopa (L-dopa) treatment have been implicated with the motor deficits found in Parkinsonâ??s disease (PD). Alterations in glutamatergic neurotransmission and anti-oxidant mechanisms are reported to play important roles in mediating these changes. However, the mechanisms mediating the molecular adaptations in the striatum are not well understood. In recent years, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been recognized as potent post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression with fundamental roles in numerous biological processes. miRNAs are known to influence the development and maintenance of striatal neurons. Therefore, we sought to determine the genome-wide expression levels of miRNAs in PD striatal tissues. Methods: Using a digital gene expression platform to quantify miRNA levels, we compared the expression of 800 miRNAs in human postmortem putamen tissues from PD patients and controls. Results: We detected the expression of approximately 250 miRNAs in postmortem human putamen samples collected from patients with PD and healthy controls. There was an abundance of a subset of 17 miRNAs (10 up- and 7 down-regulated) differing substantially between PD and the control tissues. Conclusions: We identified deregulated miRNAs most likely associated with altered striatal functions found in PD. This approach may provide insight into pathogenesis and additional therapeutic targets for the development novel treatment strategies for the disease. Human postmortem putamen tissues from 12 patients with PD symptoms and 12 neurologically normal controls. Samples were obtained from the Human Brain and Spinal Fluid Resource Center, Los Angeles, CA through NIH NeuroBioBank, and stored at -80Â°C until RNA isolation. Total RNA was extracted using the miRVana RNA isolation kit, following the manufacturerâ??s instructions (Ambion). Using 225ng total RNA, miRNA levels were assayed by direct digital detection using Nanostring miRNA assay kits (Nanostring Technologies).

Dataset Information

Small RNA sequencing of postmortem human Brodmann Area 9 and postmortem human blood from Opioid Use Disorder Subjects and Controls in the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Brain Collection

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