Periodic Reporting for period 1 - PsyCoMed (Psychiatric disorders and Comorbidities caused by pollution in the Mediterranean area)
Reporting period: 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-31
The PSYchiatric disorders and COmorbidities caused by pollution in the MEDiterranean area (PsyCoMed) project proposes a MSCA Staff Exchange program that aims to characterise the role of anthropogenic pollutants in the Mediterranean area as a risk factor of neuropsychiatric disorders and associated pathologies, and the role of neuroinflammatory responses in the disease progression. The consortium comprises 11 beneficiaries (8 academic, 3 SMEs) and 3 TC partners putting together complementary expertise in environmental and life sciences (academics) and analytical biology or natural therapeutic phytocompounds (SMEs). Through a multiscale (from molecular to clinical science), multi-modal (from mechanistic to behavioural approaches), and inter-sectoral strategy, PsyCoMed will correlate the effects of pollutants on psychiatric symptoms with alterations of inflammatory pathways in animal models and psychiatric patients. We will investigate neural mechanisms underlying pathological changes in vitro and in in vivo preclinical models. Natural substances with therapeutic potential will be tested for their ability to restore healthy mechanisms and alleviate pathological symptoms in animal models. PsyCoMed offers a unique framework to build a network synergy by bringing together themes and scientific practises in the Mediterranean area. The partners will share knowledge/know-how through secondments and workshops in support of PsyCoMed scientific objectives. This will improve the skills of staff members and their opening to the academic and private sectors. By proposing common protocols and experimental design, the participants will foster standardization of experimental procedures and diffusion of good laboratory practise. At a global level, the consortium will acquire the capacity to tackle complex neurobiological challenges, while building long-lasting collaborations. PsyCoMed will provide decision-makers with the ground for public health orientations with societal impact.
In addition to research articles in leading journals, further dissemination will be achieved through reviews and international conferences (e.g. Gordon Conferences, Society for Neuroscience Meetings, FENS Forum). Interdisciplinary dissemination will also be ensured through the participation to the eco-toxicology international conference, in relation to the PLASTICØPYR European project. This link will open future research avenues to determine the role of pollutant-induced intestinal dysbiosis on psychiatric disorders. The creation of new networks at both the senior and ESR level enhances cooperation between partners and boosts the R&I capacity among them. Indeed, secondments and participation in international conferences, and workshops – through mobility – enhances talent and knowledge circulation across the research and innovation landscape. In addition, the dedicated and transversal skill training offered by PsyCoMed will strengthen Europe human capital base in R&I.
In addition to research articles in leading journals, further dissemination will be achieved through reviews and international conferences (e.g. Gordon Conferences, Society for Neuroscience Meetings, FENS Forum). Interdisciplinary dissemination will also be ensured through the participation to the eco-toxicology international conference, in relation to the PLASTICØPYR European project. This link will open future research avenues to determine the role of pollutant-induced intestinal dysbiosis on psychiatric disorders. The creation of new networks at both the senior and ESR level enhances cooperation between partners and boosts the R&I capacity among them. Indeed, secondments and participation in international conferences, and workshops – through mobility – enhances talent and knowledge circulation across the research and innovation landscape. In addition, the dedicated and transversal skill training offered by PsyCoMed will strengthen Europe human capital base in R&I.
In the frame of the PsyCoMed project, several pollutants are being studied: aluminium chloride, glyphosate, MetaSodium hexachlorobenzene, Aflotaxin B1, nitrogen dioxide and plastics (microplastics/nanoplastics). These pollutants have been selected because of their localization in the Mediterranean area and their potential implication in psychiatric disorders and inflammatory processes.
One of the common actions of the consortium is to study the effects of plastic pollutants (microplastics and nanoplastics) on pain and attention/impulsivity disorders, social interactions and anxiety. A common protocol was agreed on by all consortium members, and ethical approvals have been submitted to the Ethics Advisory Board to comply with European Commission regulations.
Experiments have started and are still in progress at the time of this report.
Male and female will systematically be compared in all experiments on mammals. During RP1, the experiments were mostly directed at studying young adults in mice and rats models. During RP2, other stages of development will be explored, and precocious development stages will also be studied on xenopus and zebrafish.
Since recent data point to an increase in the prevalence of ADHD among populations exposed to plastic pollutants, high-throughput screening experiments with proteomics and phospho-proteomics approaches were performed to identify signalling pathways that are modulated in attention/impulsivity disorders.
Proteomics and phospho-proteomics highlight pathways possibly involved in maladaptive neuronal plasticity. There is evidence that pain-descending controls are altered in attention/impulsivity disorders. The role of the anterior cingulate cortex projections to the locus coeruleus and the implication of noradrenergic descending pathways from the locus coeruleus to the spinal cord is studied. Pupillometry recordings have been implemented in mice. They provide an in vivo read out for the implication of noradrenergic transmission. Neural circuits activation is assessed with in vivo calcium imaging in freely moving mice. Network activity of output neurons from the anterior cingulate cortex when mice perform cognitive tasks , or receive noxious stimuli, is recorded.
One of the common actions of the consortium is to study the effects of plastic pollutants (microplastics and nanoplastics) on pain and attention/impulsivity disorders, social interactions and anxiety. A common protocol was agreed on by all consortium members, and ethical approvals have been submitted to the Ethics Advisory Board to comply with European Commission regulations.
Experiments have started and are still in progress at the time of this report.
Male and female will systematically be compared in all experiments on mammals. During RP1, the experiments were mostly directed at studying young adults in mice and rats models. During RP2, other stages of development will be explored, and precocious development stages will also be studied on xenopus and zebrafish.
Since recent data point to an increase in the prevalence of ADHD among populations exposed to plastic pollutants, high-throughput screening experiments with proteomics and phospho-proteomics approaches were performed to identify signalling pathways that are modulated in attention/impulsivity disorders.
Proteomics and phospho-proteomics highlight pathways possibly involved in maladaptive neuronal plasticity. There is evidence that pain-descending controls are altered in attention/impulsivity disorders. The role of the anterior cingulate cortex projections to the locus coeruleus and the implication of noradrenergic descending pathways from the locus coeruleus to the spinal cord is studied. Pupillometry recordings have been implemented in mice. They provide an in vivo read out for the implication of noradrenergic transmission. Neural circuits activation is assessed with in vivo calcium imaging in freely moving mice. Network activity of output neurons from the anterior cingulate cortex when mice perform cognitive tasks , or receive noxious stimuli, is recorded.
At this time of first period of the project, 3 articles were published in open access to share the first obtained results of the project.
Further research is necessary to present viable and conclusive results on the experiments led by the PsyCoMed partners.
Further research is necessary to present viable and conclusive results on the experiments led by the PsyCoMed partners.