Dataset Information

Microglial cannabinoid receptor type 1 mediates social memory deficits produced by adolescent THC exposure and 16p11.2 duplication

ABSTRACT: Adolescent cannabis use increases the risk for cognitive impairments and psychiatric disorders. Cannabinoid receptor type 1 (Cnr1) is expressed not only in neurons and astrocytes, but also in microglia, which shape synaptic connections during adolescence. Nonetheless, until now, the role of microglia in mediating the adverse cognitive effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the principal psychoactive constituent of cannabis, has been unexplored. Here, we report that adolescent THC exposure produces microglial apoptosis in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), which was exacerbated in the mouse model of 16p11.2 duplication, a representative copy number variation (CNV) risk factor for psychiatric disorders. These effects are mediated by microglial Cnr1, leading to reduction in the excitability of mPFC pyramidal-tract neurons and deficits in social memory in adulthood. Our findings highlight the importance of microglial Cnr1 to produce the adverse effect of cannabis exposure in genetically vulnerable individuals.

ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus

PROVIDER: GSE242892 | GEO | 2023/10/03

REPOSITORIES: GEO

ACCESS DATA

Similar Datasets

Project description:Background: Adolescent cannabis use leads to long-lasting behavioral changes involving cognitive and reward processes. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are not well understood. To address this limitation, we performed gene network analyses using transcriptomic data from mice exposed during adolescence to Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the major psychoactive component of cannabis. Methods: We injected vehicle or THC in female and male mice during the entire adolescence period. Two weeks following the last exposure, we measured recognition memory, social interaction and anxiety-related behaviors. We generated 120 RNA-seq datasets from 5 brain regions for each mouse. We performed differential gene expression analysis and constructed co-expression networks to identify THC-induced transcriptional alterations at the level of individual genes, gene networks, biological pathways, and cellular specificity. Further, we integrated THC-correlated gene networks with human traits from genome-wide association studies and performed key driver analysis to identify potential regulators of disorder-associated networks. Results: THC impaired cognitive behaviors of mice, with memory being more impacted in females, which coincided with larger transcriptional alterations in the female brain. Gene network analyses identified brain region-, cell type- and sex- specific co-expressed genes (“modules”) dysregulated by THC. THC-induced memory deficits in females were correlated with disruption of gene networks involved in endocannabinoid signaling and inflammation. Additional THC-correlated modules in both sexes involved converging pathways related to dopamine signaling and addiction processes. Moreover, the connectivity map of THC-correlated modules uncovered intra- and inter-region molecular circuitries influenced by THC. Further, modules altered by THC treatment were enriched in genes relevant for human cognition and schizophrenia. Conclusions: These findings provide novel insights concerning the genes, cell types, and pathways underlying persistent behavioral deficits induced by adolescent exposure to THC in a sex-specific manner, and highlight the connection between adolescent cannabis use and neuropsychiatric disorders in humans.

Dataset Information

Microglial cannabinoid receptor type 1 mediates social memory deficits produced by adolescent THC exposure and 16p11.2 duplication

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure