Mice lacking Casp1, Ifngr and Nos2 genes exhibit altered depressive- and anxiety-like behaviour, and gut microbiome composition

Sci Rep. 2019 Apr 23;9(1):6456. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-38055-8.

Abstract

Converging evidence supports the involvement of pro-inflammatory pathways and the gut microbiome in major depressive disorder (MDD). Pre-clinical and clinical studies suggest that decreasing pro-inflammatory signaling may provide clinical benefit in MDD. In this study, we used the chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) paradigm to assess whether mice lacking the pro-inflammatory caspase 1, interferon gamma-receptor, and nitric oxide synthase (Casp1, Ifngr, Nos2)-/- present altered depressive- and anxiety-like behaviour at baseline and in response to CUS. In comparison to wild-type (wt) mice, (Casp1, Ifngr, Nos2)-/- mice displayed decreased depressive- and anxiety-like behaviour, and increased hedonic-like behaviour and locomotor activity at baseline, and resistance to developing anhedonic-like behaviour and a heightened emotional state following stress. Plasma levels of ACTH and CORT did not differ between the triple knockout and wt mice following stress. The faecal microbiome of (Casp1, Ifngr, Nos2)-/- mice differed from that of wt mice at baseline and displayed reduced changes in response to chronic stress. Our results demonstrate that simultaneous deficit in multiple pro-inflammatory pathways has antidepressant-like effects at baseline, and confers resilience to stress-induced anhedonic-like behaviour. Moreover, accompanying changes in the gut microbiome composition suggest that CASP1, IFNGR and NOS2 play a role in maintaining microbiome homeostasis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anxiety Disorders* / genetics
  • Anxiety Disorders* / microbiology
  • Anxiety Disorders* / physiopathology
  • Behavior, Animal*
  • Caspase 1 / deficiency*
  • Caspase 1 / metabolism
  • Depressive Disorder, Major* / genetics
  • Depressive Disorder, Major* / microbiology
  • Depressive Disorder, Major* / physiopathology
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome*
  • Interferon gamma Receptor
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / deficiency*
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / metabolism
  • Receptors, Interferon / deficiency*
  • Receptors, Interferon / metabolism

Substances

  • Receptors, Interferon
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
  • Nos2 protein, mouse
  • Casp1 protein, mouse
  • Caspase 1