Microglia and Drug-Induced Plasticity in Reward-Related Neuronal Circuits

Drugs of abuse result in complex changes in neurocircuit of reward and stress. Whilst most of these changes affect neurons, the role of additional cell types, such as glia, in the development of tolerance and related neuroplastic changes during drug taking, addiction, and withdrawal is also emerging. For instance, astrocytes, which play an essential role in glutamatergic neurotransmission, as well as in energetic and growth factor support of neurons, are significantly affected by drugs of abuse (Miguel-Hidalgo, 2009). Furthermore, the role of microglia in tailoring neuronal connectivity, transmitter metabolism, and drug-induced neuroinflammation might also be important in physiology of neurons at the addiction-related brain circuitries.

Microglia belong to monocyte/macrophage linage and are resident cells of the innate immune system in the brain. Microglia have at least three, functionally and morphologically distinct forms (Papaleo et al., 2008; Olah et al., 2011). Under normal conditions (1) resting microglia, through their highly mobile filopodia continuously survey the brain parenchyma (Nimmerjahn et al., 2005). Microglia became activated (2) in response to various danger signals posed by neurons and/or astrocytes (Davalos et al., 2005). At this stage, microglia are recruited and have local protective effects via regulated release of cytokines and phagocytosis of cellular debris. At certain point however, microglia gain reactive phenotype (3) characterized by uncontrolled release of inflammatory mediators. These cells furiously attack neurons, became neurotoxic and extend the damage (Banati and Graeber, 1994). It is noteworthy that different insults may converge upon microglial cell population and potentiate each other to worsen the outcome of the response (Zou et al., 2011). However, like macrophages, microglial cells are functionally polarized into different phenotypic activation states, referred as classical (M1) and alternative (M2). Alternatively activated microglia express anti-inflammatory cytokines and involved in tissue protection and repair.

Activated microglia may contribute to addiction-related neuroplastic changes by several ways, such as release of proinflammatory cytokines, synaptic remodeling, neurochemical interaction with excitatory transmission and phagocytosis of newborn neurons and cellular debris.

Drug-Related Receptors on Microglia

Microglia posses several neurotransmitter and gliotransmitter receptors that might be involved in their activation during drug addiction. Activation of microglia by addictive drugs results in a proinflammatory dominance of the innate immune system, which is then critically synergize on the neurocircuit of reward and dependence (Coller and Hutchinson, 2012). For instance, microglia, similar to other cell of this linage (i.e., macrophages/monocytes), express opioid receptors (Bidlack, 2000; Zou et al., 2011) although their direct role in release of IL-1α and β, TNFα remains to be established. Furthermore, it has recently been demonstrated that morphine binds to an accessory protein (MD-2) of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) and initiate release of proinflammatory cytokines from microglia and CNS endothelial cells (Wang et al., 2012). By contrast, select phytocannabinoids have anti-inflammatory (Puffenbarger et al., 2000) and neuroprotective (Martin-Moreno et al., 2011) effects that are mediated by cannabinoid receptors (CB1R and/or CB2R) which have been identified on microglia (Cabral and Marciano-Cabral, 2005; Racz et al., 2008).

Acute and chronic exposure to alcohol also results in region specific activation of glial cells (astrocytes and microglia) in dose- and time-dependent manner (Crews et al., 2011). Recent work in TLR-4 deficient mice highlighted the critical role of lipid rafts, TLR-4 and its interaction with MD-2 and CD14 accessory proteins in alcohol-induced neuroinflammation (Alfonso-Loeches et al., 2011; Coller and Hutchinson, 2012).

It is noteworthy that other abused drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine also provoke proinflammatory immune signaling in the CNS (Lee et al., 2009), suggesting that neuroinflammation is indeed a general and critical component in the development and maintenance of drug abuse. To support this hypothesis it has been demonstrated that agents blocking microglia activation (minocycline, ibudilast) could inhibit drug-induced cytokine, chemokine, and behavioral responses (Hutchinson et al., 2008, 2009; Agrawal et al., 2011; Schwarz et al., 2011). For instance, it has recently been shown that p38 signaling in the microglia in the nucleus accumbens is involved in acquisition and maintenance of morphine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) that can be suppressed by microglia inhibitors (Zhang et al., 2012).

On the other hand, opiate antagonist-based addiction therapy inhibits innate immune gene expression (Liu et al., 2000). It should be noted, however, that neuroinflammation per se does not result in addiction, however may worsen drug effects in addicted individuals (Bruce-Keller et al., 2008).

Microglia and Drug-Induced Morphological Plasticity

It is well documented that exposure to various addictive drugs produces permanent morphological and physiological changes in dendrites, dendritic arborization, dendritic spines, and synaptic density in brain regions that are implicated in reward, decision making, and inhibitory control of behavior. For instance, stimulants such as cocaine, amphetamine, and nicotine (self-administration or repeated dosing) result in an increase of spine density on medium spiny neurons of the nucleus accumbens and on the apical dendrites of pyramidal neurons of the prefrontal cortex (Robinson and Kolb, 1999, 2004). On the other hand, depressants, such morphine, significantly reduce spine densities and dendritic branching in these areas (Robinson and Kolb, 1999). Considerable amount of information has been accumulated over the years on the cellular and molecular mechanisms that govern drug experience-induced functional and morphological plasticity (Nestler, 2004; Hyman et al., 2006). With recent emergence of microglia as effectors in neural circuit reorganization, “a new player” should be considered in drug-induced neuronal plasticity (Graeber, 2010). During development, microglia engulf, and phagocytose synapses via fractalkine–fractalkine receptor (CX3CR1) dependent manner, and play an important role in synaptic “pruning” in postnatal brain development (Paolicelli et al., 2011). It has recently been suggested that microglia may actively contribute to the experience-dependent modification or elimination of a specific subset of synapses in the adult healthy brain as well (Graeber, 2010). Indeed, microglial processes make specific contacts with synapses especially with presynaptic elements and the timing of these contacts is activity-dependent (Wake et al., 2009). Recent in vivo, two photon imaging and electron microscopy studies have revealed that microglia processes were associated with dendritic spines in experience-dependent manner, supporting the role of microglia in synaptic remodeling (Wake et al., 2009; Tremblay, 2012; Tremblay et al., 2012). Based on the significant remodeling of drug-related brain areas and the role that microglia plays in morphological plasticity during development and in the healthy adult brain, one can hypothesize microglia significantly contribute to morphological and physiological synaptic plasticity in the addicted brain as well.

Microglia and Drug-Induced Neurochemical Changes

Evidences have been accumulated over the years to support the involvement of glutamatergic neurotransmission in the mechanisms of drug dependence involving the dopaminergic reward circuit. Microglia contain enzyme machinery [indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase (IDO)] to produce quinolinic acid (QUIN). QUIN promotes glutamate release through activation of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. Quinolinic acid also induces oxidative stress, which in combination with glutamate release may contribute to CNS excitotoxicity. For instance in alcoholic patients ethanol may generate significant levels of, quinolinic acid, possibly even toxic levels in localized brain areas (Morgan, 1991).

Microglia and Drug-Induced Neurodegeneration

Microglia play a pivotal role in maintaining the balance between neurogenesis and neuronal cell death in the brain via phagocytosis of apoptotic cells and necrotic debris. Neuronal stem cells and progenitors in the subgranular zone of the hippocampus give rise to newborn granular cells into the hippocampal circuit to participate learning, memory, fear, and mood regulation that are also important aspects of the addictive behavior. Under quiescent conditions microglia is ramified and seems to be neuroprotective, supporting neurogenesis through their interaction with T cells and by expressing MHCII and the neurotrophic factor insulin growth factor (IGF)-1. At this stage, microglia is very efficiently engulf apoptotic cells. However, addictive drugs decrease neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus and in the prefrontal cortex (Eisch and Harburg, 2006) and activated microglia might be involved in this process as well. It has been hypothesized that new neurons may block memories associated with the contextual reinstatement of drug seeking or enhance extinction learning. Thus, the reduction in neurogenesis (i.e., a reduction in neuronal turnover) that is observed after self-administration of various drugs of abuse may result in a more robust and long-lasting memory of drug taking and seeking or decrease extinction learning (for review: Mandyam and Koob, 2012). In response to drug-induced microglia activation and proinflammatory environment the phagocytic potential of the microglia is further enhanced, leading to neurodegeneration.

In summary, microglia are emerging contributors of drug-induced morphological and physiological plasticity by promoting neuroinflammation through release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, by their active role in synaptic remodeling, involvement in excitotoxic neurochemical changes, and by phagocytic activity of newborn progenitors (Figure 1). Based on these facts microglia might be a potential target for the therapy of drug addiction.

Figure 1.

Schematic summary of microglia (shown in green) – neuron (shown in blue) interaction relevant to neuroplasticity in addiction.