European Psychiatry (Jun 2022)
Aggressive phenotype editing by modulated immune cells
Abstract
Introduction In human society increased aggressiveness is one of the main social and health problems. Immune cells have a regulatory effect on the central nervous system functions, including regulation of behavior. Objectives The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of in vitro neuroleptic-modulated immune cells transplantation on behavioral phenotype and brain cytokines in aggressive syngeneic recipients. Methods (CBAxC57Bl/6) F1 aggressive male mice, developed in conditions of social confrontation, were undergoing the transplantation of syngeneic immune cells with in vitro chlorpromazine-modulated functional activity. Recipient’s behavioral phenotyping was performed using modern hardware and software complex EthoVision XT. The brain cytokines content was assessed by ELISA. Results It was found that repeated experience of aggression, accompanied by victories, leads to a change in male mice behavior, which manifests itself by increased motor activity, irritability, severe anxiety, and the appearance of stereotypies. Transplantation of chlorpromazine-modulated splenocytes in aggressive recipient was accompanied by decreased motor activity in the Open Field, increased open arm activity in Plus Maze, reflects anti-anxiety behavior; decreased time spent close to the partition and the total duration of attacks after removal of the partitionin in resident-intruder test, reflects decreased aggressive motivation. Behavioral changes in recipients were accompanied with cytokines brain changes: decreased IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, INFγ in the hippocampus; increased IL-4 and decreased INFγ in the hypothalamus; decreased IL-1β in the frontal cortex. Conclusions Chlorpromazine - modulated immune cells have a positive aggressive behavior editing effect being involved in the central mechanisms underlying the development of aggressive reactions. Disclosure No significant relationships.
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