scholarly journals βCaMKII in Lateral Habenula Mediates Core Symptoms of Depression

Science ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 341 (6149) ◽  
pp. 1016-1020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kun Li ◽  
Tao Zhou ◽  
Lujian Liao ◽  
Zhongfei Yang ◽  
Catherine Wong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Lateral Habenula ◽  
Proteomic Screen ◽  
Symptoms Of Depression ◽  
Calcium Calmodulin Dependent ◽  
Molecular Determinant ◽  
Animal Models Of Depression ◽  
Dependent Protein ◽  
Neuron Function ◽  
Core Symptoms

The lateral habenula (LHb) has recently emerged as a key brain region in the pathophysiology of depression. However, the molecular mechanism by which LHb becomes hyperactive in depression remains unknown. Through a quantitative proteomic screen, we found that expression of the β form of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase type II (βCaMΚΙΙ) was significantly up-regulated in the LHb of animal models of depression and down-regulated by antidepressants. Increasing β-, but not α-, CaMKII in the LHb strongly enhanced the synaptic efficacy and spike output of LHb neurons and was sufficient to produce profound depressive symptoms, including anhedonia and behavioral despair. Down-regulation of βCaMKII levels, blocking its activity or its target molecule the glutamate receptor GluR1 reversed the depressive symptoms. These results identify βCaMKII as a powerful regulator of LHb neuron function and a key molecular determinant of depression.

scholarly journals What Lies Beneath: Exploring Different Depressive Symptoms Across Selected Risk Factors in Icelandic Team Sport Athletes

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-79
Author(s):  
Richard Tahtinen ◽  
Hafrun Kristjansdottir ◽  
Daniel T. Olason ◽  
Robert Morris
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Depressed Mood ◽  
Team Sport ◽  
Depressive Symptomology ◽  
Symptoms Of Depression ◽  
Patient Health ◽  
Emotional Aspects ◽  
Clinically Significant ◽  
Core Symptoms ◽  
Specific Symptoms

The aim of the study was to explore the prevalence of specific symptoms of depression in athletes and to test differences in the likelihood of athletes exhibiting these symptoms across age, sex, type of team sport, and level of competition. A sample of Icelandic male and female team sport athletes (N = 894, 18–42 years) was included in the study. Of the athletes exhibiting clinically significant depressive symptoms on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, 37.5% did not exhibit core symptoms of depression. Compared with males, females were significantly more likely to exhibit depressed mood, feelings of worthlessness/guilt, and problems with sleep, fatigue, appetite, and concentration. Within males, differences were mostly related to neurovegetative aspects of depression (sleep and appetite), whereas in females, differences were related to cognitive/emotional aspects (e.g., depressed mood, guilt/worthlessness). The findings underline the importance of exploring specific symptoms of depression to provide a richer understanding of depressive symptomology in athletes.

scholarly journals The Emerging Role of LHb CaMKII in the Comorbidity of Depressive and Alcohol Use Disorders

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (21) ◽  
pp. 8123
Author(s):  
Chaya Shor ◽  
Wanhong Zuo ◽  
Jean D. Eloy ◽  
Jiang-Hong Ye
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Depressive Disorders ◽  
Alcohol Use Disorders ◽  
Lateral Habenula ◽  
Calcium Calmodulin Dependent ◽  
Targeted Treatments ◽  
Serotonin Neurons ◽  
Significant Public Health ◽  
Core Components ◽  
Dependent Protein

Depressive disorders and alcohol use disorders are widespread among the general population and are significant public health and economic burdens. Alcohol use disorders often co-occur with other psychiatric conditions and this dual diagnosis is called comorbidity. Depressive disorders invariably contribute to the development and worsening of alcohol use disorders, and vice versa. The mechanisms underlying these disorders and their comorbidities remain unclear. Recently, interest in the lateral habenula, a small epithalamic brain structure, has increased because it becomes hyperactive in depression and alcohol use disorders, and can inhibit dopamine and serotonin neurons in the midbrain reward center, the hypofunction of which is believed to be a critical contributor to the etiology of depressive disorders and alcohol use disorders as well as their comorbidities. Additionally, calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) in the lateral habenula has emerged as a critical player in the etiology of these comorbidities. This review analyzes the interplay of CaMKII signaling in the lateral habenula associated with depressive disorders and alcohol use disorders, in addition to the often-comorbid nature of these disorders. Although most of the CaMKII signaling pathway’s core components have been discovered, much remains to be learned about the biochemical events that propagate and link between depression and alcohol abuse. As the field rapidly advances, it is expected that further understanding of the pathology involved will allow for targeted treatments.

scholarly journals Pain, Anxiety- and Depression-Like Behaviors in Alcohol-Preferring and -NonPreferring Rats

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Jiang-Hong Ye ◽  
Emily Bian ◽  
Jiang-Hong Ye ◽  
Jing Li ◽  
Michal Gajewski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Alcohol Exposure ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Mechanical Stimuli ◽  
Lateral Habenula ◽  
Pain Anxiety ◽  
Calcium Calmodulin Dependent ◽  
Neuronal Mechanisms ◽  
Dependent Protein

Introduction: Psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, hyperalgesia, and depression have been associated with excessive alcohol drinking, but the neuronal mechanisms involved are only partially understood. Alcoholism more often occurs in individuals with a family history, indicating that genes may play a critical role. Chronic alcohol exposure alters calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) signaling in the lateral habenula (LHb), and the LHb is implicated in mediating aversive behaviors, including those related to alcohol. We compared the CaMKII signaling in the LHb and the aberrant behaviors in the selectively bred alcohol-preferring (P) and alcohol-non-preferring (NP) lines of rats. Materials and Methods: The responses to mechanical (Von Frey) and thermal (Hargreaves) nociception tests, anxiety- (elevated plus maze, Marble burying) and depressive-like behaviors (forced swimming) were examined in the alcohol-naïve P and NP rats, as well as in P rats after 4-8 weeks of alcohol consumption; their LHb tissues were also collected for Western blot analysis of CaMKII expression. Results: Compared to NP rats, the P rats had a higher sensitivity to mechanical stimuli, and displayed depressive- and anxiety-like behaviors, as well as a higher level of CaMKII in the LHb. Alcohol consumption alleviated all these behaviors, except for anxiety, and decreased CaMKII levels in the LHb of P rats. Conclusions: The results show that selective breeding for different oral alcohol preference has produced differences in nociception, anxiety, and depression, as well as CaMKII expression in the LHb of P and NP rats. P rats may deal with pain and depression by self-medicating with alcohol.

Examining the Temporal Dynamics of Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms During a Therapist-Supported, Smartphone-Based Intervention for Major Depression (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Santiago Allende ◽  
Valerie Forman-Hoffman ◽  
Philippe Goldin
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Temporal Relationship ◽  
Temporal Dynamics ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Quadratic Function ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Symptoms Of Depression ◽  
Effect Model ◽  
End Of Treatment ◽  
Highly Correlated

UNSTRUCTURED Background: Anxiety and depression symptoms are highly correlated in adults with depression; however, little is known about their interaction and temporal dynamics of change during treatment. Thus, the primary aim of this study was to examine the temporal dynamics of anxiety and depressive symptoms during a 12-week therapist-supported, smartphone-delivered digital health intervention for symptoms of depression and anxiety, the Meru Health Program (MHP). Method: A total of 290 participants from the MHP were included in the present analyses (age Mean = 39.64, SD = 10.25 years; 79% female; 54% self-reported psychotropic medication use). A variance components model was used to examine whether (1) reporting greater anxiety during the current week relative to anxiety reported in other weeks would be associated with greater reporting of depressive symptoms during the current week, while a time-varying effect model was used to examine whether, (2) consistent with findings reported by Wright et al. (2014), the temporal relationship between anxiety and depressive symptoms during the intervention would be expressed as a quadratic function marked by a weak association at baseline, followed by an increase to a peak before demonstrating a negligible decrease until the end of treatment. Results: In support of hypothesis 1, we found that reporting greater anxiety symptoms during the current week relative to other weeks was associated with greater depressive symptoms during the current week. Contrary to hypothesis 2, the temporal relationship between anxiety and depressive symptoms evidenced a recurring pattern, with the association increasing during the initial weeks, decreasing during mid-treatment and sharply increasing toward the end of treatment. Conclusions: The present findings demonstrate that anxiety and depressive symptoms overlap and fluctuate in concert during a smartphone-based intervention for anxiety and depressive symptoms. The present findings may warrant more refined intervention strategies specifically tailored to co-occurring patterns of change in symptoms.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document