Discovery of pathway leading to depression reveals new dr... ( Scientists have identified the key m...)

Discovery of pathway leading to depression reveals new drug targets

Date:12/6/2012

Scientists have identified the key molecular pathway leading to depression, revealing potential new targets for drug discovery, according to research led by King's College London's Institute of Psychiatry. The study, published today in Neuropsychopharmacology, reveals for the first time that the 'Hedgehog pathway' regulates how stress hormones, usually elevated during depression, reduce the number of brain cells.

Depression affects approximately 1 in 5 people in the UK at some point in their lives. The severity of symptoms can range from feelings of sadness and hopelessness to, in the most severe cases, self-harm or suicide. Treatment for depression involves either medication or talking treatment, or usually a combination of the two.

Recent studies have demonstrated that depression is associated with a reduction in a brain process called 'neurogenesis'- the ability of the brain to produce new brain cells. However, the pathway responsible for this process has, until now, remained unknown.

In this study, Dr Christoph Anacker from King's Institute of Psychiatry and his team studied human stem cells, which are the source of new cells in the human brain, to investigate the effect of stress hormones on brain cell development. The study was funded by the National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre for Mental Health at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and King's College London and the Medical Research Council UK.

Stress hormones, such as cortisol, are generally elevated in stress and depression. The team studied stem cells in a laboratory and found that high concentrations of cortisol damaged these stem cells and reduced the number of newborn brain cells. They discovered that a specific signalling mechanism in the cell, the 'Hedgehog pathway', is responsible for this process. Then, using an animal model, the team confirmed that exposure to stress inhibited this pathway in the brain.<
'/>"/>

Contact: Seil Collins
seil.collins@kcl.ac.uk
44-207-848-5377
King's College London
Source:Eurekalert

0

GOOD

Page: 1 2
Related biology news :

1. Discovery of 100 million-year-old regions of DNA shows short cut to crop science advances
2. Discovery of molecular pathway of Alzheimers disease reveals new drug targets
3. The Journal of Biological Chemistry commemorates an important 1987 discovery
4. GW Research chosen as paper of the week for blood coagulation discovery
5. NIH-funded genetic sequencing tool speeds drug discovery, disease diagnostics
6. Discovery of reprogramming signature may help further stem cell-based regenerative medicine research
7. King Richard III search in new phase after discovery has potential to rewrite history
8. New discovery related to gum disease
9. Cant smell anything? This discovery may give you hope
10. Chemicals today, drugs tomorrow: U-Ms new Center for Drug Discovery
11. Molecular movies may accelerate anti-cancer drug discovery

Post Your Comments:

(Date:5/22/2013)... National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) investigators also conclude ... mortality with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) versus chest ... primary paper is achievable at experienced screening centers ... more information to share with their patients about ... screening following today,s publication in the New ...

(Date:5/22/2013)... 2013)The omega 3 fatty acids in fish oil have ... so that the American Heart Association currently recommends eating ... fatty varieties rich in omega 3s. However, the mechanism ... a new study, scientists led by Jason R. Carter ... by providing evidence that fish oil might specifically counteract ...

(Date:5/22/2013)... Legionella pneumophila bacteria is responsible for legionellosis, an ... to infect us, this pathogen has developed a complex ... in our cells, thus avoiding these acting against the ... research centre, CIC bioGUNE, in which teams from the ... the National Supercomputation Centre in Barcelona (BSC) have also ...

Breaking Biology News(10 mins):NLST: CT detects twice as many lung cancers as X-ray at initial screening exam 2 NLST: CT detects twice as many lung cancers as X-ray at initial screening exam 3 Fish oil may help the heart beat mental stress 2 Mechanism discovered which aids Legionella to camouflage itself in the organism 2

[0] NLST: CT detects twice as many lung cancers as X-ray at initial screening exam [1] Fish oil may help the heart beat mental stress [0] Mechanism discovered which aids Legionella to camouflage itself in the organism

... This press release is available in French ... kind, combines two complementary analytical brain imaging techniques, to provide ... the autistic brain. The study, published in the April issue ... by researchers at The Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital ...

... It,s illegal for health products with medical formulations to be ... on animals ― a situation that has serious ethical and ... by Prof. Amit Gefen of Tel Aviv University,s Faculty of ... be needed for the necessary experimental trials. Dr. Gefen,s ...

... The six sponsoring societies for the meeting ... The American Physiological Society, American Society for Biochemistry ... American Society for Nutrition, and American Society for ... some of the science being presented April 24-28, ...

Cached Biology News:Dual approach gives a more accurate picture of the autistic brain 2 Dual approach gives a more accurate picture of the autistic brain 3 A lab rat -- created in the lab 2 Selected highlights of the research being presented at the Experimental Biology 2010 meeting 2 Selected highlights of the research being presented at the Experimental Biology 2010 meeting 3 Selected highlights of the research being presented at the Experimental Biology 2010 meeting 4

Dual approach gives a more accurate picture of the autistic brain A lab rat -- created in the lab Selected highlights of the research being presented at the Experimental Biology 2010 meeting

(Date:5/23/2013)... May 23, 2013 Graphite Metallizing ... self-lubricating bushings mounted in stainless steel pillow blocks. ... of GRAPHALLOY with the application and installation versatility ... Pillow Blocks work exceptionally well when submerged ... hostile liquids such as acids, alkalies, hydrocarbons, black ...

(Date:5/23/2013)... May 23, 2013 PI’s new ... and provide 15 mm travel range with closed-loop ... small dimensions make these new positioners the ideal ... A vacuum rated version is also available. ... and datasheets can be found at: , ...

(Date:5/23/2013)... On April 19th the Center ... search for the growing antibiotic resistant bacteria that may ... year long study were released late last month showing ... over previous years. For those suffering from bacteria driven ... resistant bacteria in food, may eventually help breed acne ...

(Date:5/23/2013)... 2013 Verenium Corporation (Nasdaq: VRNM ), ... and commercialization of high-performance enzymes, today announced that ... present at two upcoming conferences. (Logo: ... the Second Annual Marcum LLP Microcap Conference on Thursday, ... New York City. The presentation is scheduled to begin ...

Breaking Biology Technology:Graphite Metallizing Now Offers GRAPHALLOY® Stainless Steel Pillow Blocks for Success in Submersible Applications 2 Graphite Metallizing Now Offers GRAPHALLOY® Stainless Steel Pillow Blocks for Success in Submersible Applications 3 Precision Positioning System Uses Miniaturezed Piezo Linear Motor: LPS-24 Linear Stage by PI 2 Acne Cream, Probiotic Action Shares News on How Some Food may Breed Acne Causing Bacteria 2 Verenium To Present At Two Upcoming Conferences 2 Verenium To Present At Two Upcoming Conferences 3

[0] Graphite Metallizing Now Offers GRAPHALLOY® Stainless Steel Pillow Blocks for Success in Submersible Applications [0] Precision Positioning System Uses Miniaturezed Piezo Linear Motor: LPS-24 Linear Stage by PI [0] Acne Cream, Probiotic Action Shares News on How Some Food may Breed Acne Causing Bacteria [0] Verenium To Present At Two Upcoming Conferences

... N.J., July 21 BioNeutral Group, Inc. ("BioNeutral") (OTC ... Science Company announced today that at ATS Labs using ... Antimicrobial passed the difficult Quantitative Disk Carrier test ... difficile (C.diff) present in this test ...

... , , PALO ALTO, Calif., July 21, ... third quarter of its fiscal year 2009 after 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time ... of its investor conference call to review those quarterly results is scheduled ... , That live webcast can be accessed from Varian, ...

... , , KENILWORTH, N.J., July 21 ... for the 2009 second quarter. , , ... given us the strength to again power through tough challenges - delivering ... Fred Hassan, chairman and CEO. , , ...

BioNeutral's Ygiene(TM) Hospital Grade Achieves a 100% Total Kill (Pass) Against the Life Threatening Clostridium Difficile (C.diff) Spores in Independent EPA Required Protocol Testing.Varian, Inc. to Webcast Conference Call on Third Quarter Fiscal Year 2009 Financial Results Schering-Plough Reports Financial Results for 2009 Second Quarter

This antibody detects cdc42 on SDS-PAGE immunoblots....

Goat polyclonal to Nebraska Calf Diarrhea Virus (FITC) ( Abpromise for all tested applications). Antigen: Bovine (Nebraska Calf Diarrhea Virus)....

DNA fragmentation factor & Inhibitor of CAD...

Rabbit polyclonal to Methionine Aminopeptidase 2 ( Abpromise for all tested applications). entrezGeneID: 10988 SwissProtID: P50579...

Biology Products:

Rabbit Anti-cdc42 / Rac Polyclonal Antibody, Unconjugated from Assay Designs/Stressgen Bioreagents Goat Anti-Human Nebraska Calf Diarrhea Virus Polyclonal Antibody, FITC Conjugated from Abcam Anti-Human DFF45 / ICAD (NT) Polyclonal Antibody, Unconjugated from Cell Sciences Rabbit Anti-Methionine Aminopeptidase 2 Polyclonal Antibody, Unconjugated from Abcam