MK4MDD

Study Report

Reference
CitationGuilloux JP, 2012 PubMed
Full InfoGuilloux JP, Douillard-Guilloux G, Kota R, Wang X, Gardier AM, et al. (2012) Molecular evidence for BDNF- and GABA-related dysfunctions in the amygdala of female subjects with major depression. Mol Psychiatry 17: 1130-1142.

Study
Hypothesis or Background Women are twice as likely as men to develop major depressive disorder (MDD) and are more prone to recurring episodes. Hence, we tested the hypothesis that the illness may associate with robust molecular changes in female subjects, and investigated large-scale gene expression in the post-mortem brain of MDD subjects paired with matched controls (n=21 pairs).
Sample InformationMDD subjects paired with matched controls (n=21 pairs)
Method Detail
Method Keywordsmicroarray; Q-PCR
ResultAmong the most robust findings were downregulated transcripts for genes coding for gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) interneuron-related peptides, including somatostatin (SST), tachykinin, neuropeptide Y (NPY) and cortistatin, in a pattern reminiscent to that previously reported in mice with low brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Changes were confirmed by quantitative PCR and not explained by demographic, technical or known clinical parameters. BDNF itself was significantly downregulated at the RNA and protein levels in MDD subjects. Investigating putative mechanisms, we show that this core MDD-related gene profile (including SST, NPY, TAC1, RGS4 and CORT) is recapitulated by complementary patterns in mice with constitutive (BDNF-heterozygous) or activity-dependent (exon IV knockout) decreases in BDNF function, with a common effect on SST and NPY.
ConclusionsTogether, these results provide both direct (low RNA/protein) and indirect (low BDNF-dependent gene pattern) evidence for reduced BDNF function in the amygdala of female subjects with MDD. Supporting studies in mutant mice models suggest a complex mechanism of low constitutive and activity-dependent BDNF function in MDD, particularly affecting SST/NPY-related GABA neurons, thus linking the neurotrophic and GABA hypotheses of depression.

Relationships reported by Guilloux JP, 2012

Copyright: Bioinformatics Lab, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Feedback
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Last update: October 10, 2015