5-HIAA as a Potential Biological Marker for Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders

Neurological and psychiatric disorders occur in about 6 percent of the global population indicating a significant amount of people suffering from neurological disorder on a varying range in day to day life. On an extensive view, there is a critical requirement for the development of an alternative biomarker for these conditions. The thwart found in developing a biomarker is the difficulty in identifying a serum biomarker as these are mostly limited to the central nervous system (CNS). Serotonin being a neurotransmitter synthesized in the raphe nuclei of the brain could serve as an alternative biomarker. Here, the limitation is that it’s quickly metabolized by the mitochondrial enzyme MAO to 5-hydroxy indole acetic acid (5HIAA). This subsequent metabolite can be used for the analysis of serotonin levels in brain by analysing its concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Many theories suggest that the variations in serotonin level could lead to the development of many neurological and psychiatric disorders like Alzheimer’s disease (AD), schizophrenia, depression and so on. A decreased level is noticed in these patients but this could either be due to decreased production or increased reuptake of serotonin from the neuronal synapses. For instance, we know that a patient with depression shows a significant reduction in the levels of 5HIAA, due to the location of the raphe nuclei within regions of memory and cognition. Similarly, it does shows variation in AD and mild cognitive disorder. Evolving of 5HIAA as a biomarker, could be more delicate and enhanced strategy for monitoring these disorders.

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Cortisol as a Biomarker of Mental Disorder Severity

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10215204 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (21) ◽

pp. 5204

Author(s):

Ewelina Dziurkowska ◽

Marek Wesolowski

Keyword(s):

Mental Disorders ◽

Psychiatric Disorders ◽

Biological Marker ◽

Cortisol Secretion ◽

Peripheral Tissues ◽

Current State ◽

The Face ◽

The Central Nervous System ◽

Cortisol Levels ◽

Healthy Participants

Cortisol—the most important steroid hormone with a significant effect on body metabolism—strongly affects peripheral tissues and the central nervous system. Fluctuations in cortisol secretion often accompany psychiatric disorders, and normalization of its levels correlates with improvement in the patient’s health. This indicates that cortisol may be useful as a biological marker that can help determine the likelihood of mental illness, its impending onset, and the severity of symptoms, which is especially important in the face of the increasing prevalence of mental disorders, including those associated with social isolation and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. This publication reviews recent reports on cortisol levels in healthy participants and shows the current state of knowledge on changes in the levels of this hormone in people at risk for depression, bipolar disorder, and psychosis. It shows how people with psychiatric disorders react to stressful situations and how the applied therapies affect cortisol secretion. The influence of antidepressants and antipsychotics on cortisol levels in healthy people and those with mental disorders is also described. Finally, it reviews publications on the patterns of cortisol secretion in patients in remission.

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Electrical Stimulation of the Raphe Nuclei: Effects on Runway Performance

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e463442008-120 ◽

1969 ◽

Author(s):

H. B. Van Twyver ◽

M. D. Fairchild ◽

M. B. Sterman

Keyword(s):

Electrical Stimulation ◽

Raphe Nuclei ◽

Runway Performance ◽

Raphé Nuclei ◽

Stimulation Of

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Heterogeneity and Proliferative and Differential Regulators of NG2-glia in Physiological and Pathological States

Current Medicinal Chemistry ◽

10.2174/0929867326666190717112944 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 27 (37) ◽

pp. 6384-6406 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Zuo Zhang ◽

Hongli Zhou ◽

Jiyin Zhou

Keyword(s):

Central Nervous System ◽

Nervous System ◽

Physiological State ◽

Critical Role ◽

Adult Brain ◽

Pathological State ◽

Peripheral Neurons ◽

Neuronal Synapses ◽

The Central Nervous System ◽

Rapid Modulation

NG2-glia, also called Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells (OPCs), account for approximately 5%-10% of the cells in the developing and adult brain and constitute the fifth major cell population in the central nervous system. NG2-glia express receptors and ion channels involved in rapid modulation of neuronal activities and signaling with neuronal synapses, which have functional significance in both physiological and pathological states. NG2-glia participate in quick signaling with peripheral neurons via direct synaptic touches in the developing and mature central nervous system. These distinctive glia perform the unique function of proliferating and differentiating into oligodendrocytes in the early developing brain, which is critical for axon myelin formation. In response to injury, NG2-glia can proliferate, migrate to the lesions, and differentiate into oligodendrocytes to form new myelin sheaths, which wrap around damaged axons and result in functional recovery. The capacity of NG2-glia to regulate their behavior and dynamics in response to neuronal activity and disease indicate their critical role in myelin preservation and remodeling in the physiological state and in repair in the pathological state. In this review, we provide a detailed summary of the characteristics of NG2-glia, including their heterogeneity, the regulators of their proliferation, and the modulators of their differentiation into oligodendrocytes.

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Endocannabinoid system in the neurodevelopment of GABAergic interneurons: implications for neurological and psychiatric disorders

Reviews in the Neurosciences ◽

10.1515/revneuro-2020-0134 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 0 (0) ◽

Author(s):

Chang-geng Song ◽

Xin Kang ◽

Fang Yang ◽

Wan-qing Du ◽

Jia-jia Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Psychiatric Disorders ◽

Endocannabinoid System ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Network Activity ◽

Inhibitory Neurons ◽

Gabaergic Interneurons ◽

Neural Stem Progenitor Cells ◽

The Central Nervous System ◽

Interneuron Development

Abstract In mature mammalian brains, the endocannabinoid system (ECS) plays an important role in the regulation of synaptic plasticity and the functioning of neural networks. Besides, the ECS also contributes to the neurodevelopment of the central nervous system. Due to the increase in the medical and recreational use of cannabis, it is inevitable and essential to elaborate the roles of the ECS on neurodevelopment. GABAergic interneurons represent a group of inhibitory neurons that are vital in controlling neural network activity. However, the role of the ECS in the neurodevelopment of GABAergic interneurons remains to be fully elucidated. In this review, we provide a brief introduction of the ECS and interneuron diversity. We focus on the process of interneuron development and the role of ECS in the modulation of interneuron development, from the expansion of the neural stem/progenitor cells to the migration, specification and maturation of interneurons. We further discuss the potential implications of the ECS and interneurons in the pathogenesis of neurological and psychiatric disorders, including epilepsy, schizophrenia, major depressive disorder and autism spectrum disorder.

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