Adenosine A2A receptor modulates neuroimmune function through Th17/retinoid-related orphan receptor gamma t (RORγt) signaling in a BTBR T(+) Itpr3(tf)/J mouse model of autism.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by abnormal social interactions, repetitive behaviors that impair social communication, and circumscribed interests. BTBR T+tf/J (BTBR) inbred mice are generally used as a model for ASD, as they show repetitive behaviors and social deficits that resemble signs of ADS in humans. Adenosine A2A receptors (A2ARs) are considered as potential targets in the treatment of immune, inflammatory, and neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, we investigated the potential effects of the A2A adenosine receptor (A2AR) antagonist SCH 5826 (SCH) and agonist CGS 21680 (CGS) on behavior (self-grooming), hot plate test results, and expression levels of IL-17A+, RORγt+, Foxp3+, and IL-10+ in CD4+ T spleen cells in BTBR and C57BL/6 (B6) mice. We also assessed IL-17A, RORγt, Stat3, pStat3, Foxp3, and IL-10 mRNA and protein expression levels in the brain tissue. The CGS-treated mice showed a significantly altered self-grooming score and a reduced response to the hot plate test. The results further revealed that the SCH efficiently increased the IL-17A+ and RORγt+ expression levels and decreased the Foxp3+ and IL-10+ expression levels in CD4+ cells. However, the treatment with CGS significantly reversed these effects. In addition, CGS significantly decreased the IL-17A, RORγt, Stat3, and pStat3 levels and increased the Foxp3 and IL-10 mRNA and protein expression levels as compared with the BTBR control and SCH treatments. Our results clearly indicate that the CGS A2AR agonist may represent a unique target for future therapeutic strategies for neuroimmune dysfunction.

Ansari MA ，Nadeem A ，Attia SM ，Bakheet SA ，Raish M ，Ahmad SF ... -  《-》

Activation of adenosine A2A receptor signaling regulates the expression of cytokines associated with immunologic dysfunction in BTBR T(+) Itpr3(tf)/J mice.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by stereotypical repetitive behavior, impaired social interaction, and deficits in communication. The BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J (BTBR) mice have been extensively used as an animal model of the ASD-like phenotype. Adenosine A2A receptors (A2ARs) are considered potential targets in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, we used the A2AR antagonist SCH 5826 (SCH) and the A2AR agonist CGS 21680 (CGS) to investigate the activation of A2AR signaling in immune cells. Further, we examined the effects of A2ARs on the expression of the cytokines interleukin 2 (IL-2), IL-6, IL-9, interferon gamma (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) in the spleen and in splenic CD4+ T cells. In addition, we assessed the mRNA and protein expression levels of these cytokines in the brain tissue. Our results showed that the levels of IL-2+, IL-6+, IL-9+, IFN-γ+, and TNF-α+ were significantly lower, whereas the levels of TGF-β+ in the spleen and in splenic CD4+ T cells were significantly higher in the CGS-treated mice than in the BTBR control and SCH-treated mice. In addition, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blot analysis showed a decrease in the mRNA and protein expression levels of IL-2, IL-6, IL-9, IFN-γ+, and TNF-α+ and an increase in the mRNA and protein expression levels of TGF-β in the CGS-treated mice, while treatment with BTBR alone and SCH resulted in increased Th1 levels and decreased Th2 levels in the brain tissue. Our results suggest that treatment the A2AR agonist CGS may be a promising therapeutic option for neuroimmune dysfunction.

Ansari MA ，Attia SM ，Nadeem A ，Bakheet SA ，Raish M ，Khan TH ，Al-Shabanah OA ，Ahmad SF ... -  《-》

Toll-like receptors, NF-κB, and IL-27 mediate adenosine A2A receptor signaling in BTBR T(+) Itpr3(tf)/J mice.

Autism is a predominant neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired communication, social deficits, and repetitive behaviors. Recent research has proposed that the impairment of innate immunity may play an important role in autism. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are potential therapeutic targets against neuroinflammation. The BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J (BTBR) mouse is a well-known model of autism, showing repetitive behaviors such as cognitive inflexibility and increased grooming as compared to C57BL/6 (B6) mice. Adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR) signaling is involved in inflammation, brain injury, and lymphocyte infiltration into the CNS, but the role of A2AR in autism remains unknown. We investigated the effect of A2AR antagonist SCH 5826 (SCH) and agonist CGS 21680 (CGS) on the expression levels of TLRs, IL-27, NF-κB p65, and IκBα in BTBR mice. Treatment of BTBR mice with SCH increased the percentage of splenic CD14+TLR2+ cells, CD14+TLR3+ cells, CD14+TLR4+ cells, and decreased the percentage of CD14+IL-27+ cells, as compared to the untreated BTBR mice. Our results reveal that BTBR mice treated with CGS had reversal of SCH-induced immunological responses. Moreover, mRNA and protein expression analyses confirmed increased expression of TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, and NF-κB p65 in brain tissue, and decreased IL-27 and IκBα expression following SCH treatment, as compared to the untreated-BTBR and CGS-treated BTBR mice. Together, these results suggest that the A2AR agonist corrects neuroimmune dysfunction observed in BTBR mice, and thus has the potential as a therapeutic approach in autism.

Ahmad SF ，Ansari MA ，Nadeem A ，Bakheet SA ，Al-Ayadhi LY ，Attia SM ... -  《-》

Adenosine A2A receptor signaling affects IL-21/IL-22 cytokines and GATA3/T-bet transcription factor expression in CD4(+) T cells from a BTBR T(+) Itpr3tf/J mouse model of autism.

Autism is a complex heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder; previous studies have identified altered immune responses among individuals diagnosed with autism. An imbalance in the production of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and transcription factors plays a role in neurodevelopmental behavioral and autism disorders. BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J (BTBR) mice are used as a model for autism, as they exhibit social deficits, communication deficits, and repetitive behaviors compared with C57BL/6J (B6) mice. The adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR) appears to be a potential target for the improvement of behavioral, inflammatory, immune, and neurological disorders. We investigated the effects of the A2AR antagonist SCH 5826 (SCH) and agonist CGS 21680 (CGS) on IL-21, IL-22, T-bet, T-box transcription factor (T-bet), GATA3 (GATA Binding Protein 3), and CD152 (CTLA-4) expression in BTBR mice. Our results showed that BTBR mice treated with SCH had increased CD4+IL-21+, CD4+IL-22+, CD4+GATA3+, and CD4+T-bet+ and decreased CD4+CTLA-4+ expression in spleen cells compared with BTBR control mice. Moreover, CGS efficiently decreased CD4+IL-21+, CD4+IL-22+, CD4+GATA3+, and CD4+T-bet+ and increased CD4+CTLA-4 production in spleen cells compared with SCH-treated and BTBR control mice. Additionally, SCH treatment significantly increased the mRNA and protein expression levels of IL-21, IL-22, GATA3, and T-bet in brain tissue compared with CGS-treated and BTBR control mice. The augmented levels of IL-21/IL-22 and GATA3/T-bet could be due to altered A2AR signaling. Our results indicate that A2AR agonists may represent a new class of compounds that can be developed for use in the treatment of autistic and neuroimmune dysfunctions.

Ahmad SF ，Ansari MA ，Nadeem A ，Bakheet SA ，Almutairi MM ，Attia SM ... -  《-》

The adenosine A(2A) receptor agonist, CGS 21680, attenuates a probabilistic reversal learning deficit and elevated grooming behavior in BTBR mice.

Restricted interests and repetitive behaviors (RRBs) are a defining feature of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). To date there are limited options for treating this core symptomology. Treatments that stimulate adenosine A2A receptors may represent a promising approach for reducing RRBs in ASD. This is because A2A receptors are expressed on striatal neurons of the basal ganglia indirect pathway. Under activation of this pathway has been associated with RRBs while activation of A2A receptors leads to increased activity of the indirect basal ganglia pathway. The present studies investigated whether acute, systemic treatment with CGS21680, an A2A receptor agonist attenuates elevated self-grooming and a probabilistic reversal learning deficit in the BTBR T+ Itpr3tf /J (BTBR) mouse model of idiopathic autism. The effects of this treatment were also investigated in C57BL/6J (B6) mice as a comparison strain. Using a spatial reversal learning test with 80/20 probabilistic feedback, comparable to one in which ASD individuals exhibit deficits, CGS 21680 (0.005 and 0.01mg/kg) attenuated a reversal learning deficit in BTBR mice. Enhancement in probabilistic reversal learning performance resulted from CGS 21680 improving the consistent maintenance of new adaptive behavioral choice patterns after reversal. CGS 21680 at 0.01 mg, but not 0.005 mg, also reduced self-grooming behavior in BTBR mice. CGS 21680 did not affect self-grooming or reversal learning in B6 mice. These findings demonstrate that A2A receptor agonists may be a promising receptor target in the treatment of RRBs in ASD. Autism Res 2018, 11: 223-233. © 2017 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. The present experiments determined whether the drug, CGS 21680, that facilitates activation of adenosine A2A receptors in the brain, would reduce repetitive and inflexible behaviors in the BTBR mouse model of idiopathic autism. CGS 21680 treatment in BTBR mice reduced repetitive and inflexible behaviors. In the control C57BL/6J (B6) mouse strain, CGS 21680 did not affect performance. These findings suggest that stimulation of brain adenosine A2A receptors may be a promising therapeutic strategy in ASD.

Amodeo DA ，Cuevas L ，Dunn JT ，Sweeney JA ，Ragozzino ME ... -  《-》