van Beveren, N. J. M. | Search bioRxiv

bioRxiv2024

Potential Benefits of Ketone Therapy as a Novel Immunometabolic Treatment for Schizophrenia

RationaleCurrent treatment options for patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders (SSD) remain unsatisfactory, leaving patients with persistent negative and cognitive symptoms and metabolic side effects. Therapeutic ketosis was recently hypothesized to target the bio-energetic pathophysiology of SSD. However, neuro-inflammation plays an important role in the pathobiology of SSD as well. Ideally, novel treatments would target both the bio-energetic, and the inflammatory aspects of SSD. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of ketone bodies on neuro-inflammation in an acute inflammation mouse model. Methods8-week-old male C57BL/6 N mice (n=11) were treated with either ketone ester (KE) or vehicle for 3 days. On day 3, a single intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or phosphate buffered saline (PBS) was administered. Mice were euthanized 24 h after LPS/PBS injection. Whole brain gene expression analysis using RT-PCR was done for Tnf-a, Il-6 and Il-1b. ResultsLPS caused a potent transcriptional upregulation of Tnf-a, Il-6 and Il-1b in the vehicle-treated mouse brain compared to PBS-injected controls. KE strongly and significantly attenuated the increased transcription of pro-inflammatory cytokines (Tnf-a, Il-6 and Il-1b) in the brain upon LPS injection compared to vehicle. ConclusionsKE potently dampened neuro-inflammation in this acute inflammation mouse model. Ketone therapy holds great promise as a treatment for SSD patients by simultaneously targeting two main pathophysiological disease pathways. We encourage more research into the immunometabolic potential of therapeutic ketosis in SSD. HighlightsO_LIA brain bio-energetic deficit and neuro-inflammation are involved in schizophrenia C_LIO_LIKetone therapy is being investigated as a bio-energetic treatment of schizophrenia C_LIO_LIKetone ester inhibits neuro-inflammation in an acute inflammation mouse mode C_LIO_LITherapeutic ketosis could target both pathophysiological pathways in SSD C_LIO_LIThe Immunometabolic potential of ketone therapy for SSD warrants further attention C_LI

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2021

Activated PI3Kδ syndrome, an immunodeficiency disorder, leads to sensorimotor deficits recapitulated in a murine model.

The phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K) family plays a major role in cell signalling and is predominant in leukocytes. Gain-of-function (GOF) mutations in the PIK3CD gene lead to the development of activated PI3K{delta} syndrome (APDS), a rare primary immunodeficiency disorder. A subset of APDS patients also displays neurodevelopmental delay symptoms, suggesting a potential role of PIK3CD in cognitive and behavioural function. However, the extent and nature of the neurodevelopmental deficits has not been previously quantified. Here, we assessed the cognitive functions of two APDS patients, and investigated the causal role of the PIK3CD GOF mutation in neurological deficits using a murine model of this disease. We used E1020K knock-in mice, harbouring the most common APDS mutation in patients. We found that APDS patients present with visuomotor deficits, exacerbated by autism spectrum disorder comorbidity, whereas p110{delta}E1020K mice exhibited impairments in motor behaviour, learning and repetitive behaviour patterning. Our data indicate that PIK3CD GOF mutations increase the risk for neurodevelopmental deficits, supporting previous findings on the interplay between the nervous and the immune system. Further, our results validate the knock-in mouse model, and offer an objective assessment tool for patients that could be incorporated in diagnosis and in the evaluation of treatments.

neuroscience↗