Publication Type Academic Article
Authors Alexander B, Warner-Schmidt J, Eriksson T, Tamminga C, Arango-Lievano M, Ghose S, Vernov M, Stavarache M, Musatov S, Flajolet M, Svenningsson P, Greengard P, Kaplitt M
Journal Sci Transl Med
Volume 2
Issue 54
Pagination 54ra76
Date Published 10/20/2010
ISSN 1946-6242
Keywords Annexin A2, Depression, Genetic Therapy, Nucleus Accumbens, S100 Proteins
Abstract The etiology of major depression remains unknown, but dysfunction of serotonergic signaling has long been implicated in the pathophysiology of this disorder. p11 is an S100 family member recently identified as a serotonin 1B [5-hydroxytryptamine 1B (5-HT(1B))] and serotonin 4 (5-HT(4)) receptor-binding protein. Mutant mice in which p11 is deleted show depression-like behaviors, suggesting that p11 may be a mediator of affective disorder pathophysiology. Using somatic gene transfer, we have now identified the nucleus accumbens as a key site of p11 action. Reduction of p11 with adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated RNA interference in the nucleus accumbens, but not in the anterior cingulate, of normal adult mice resulted in depression-like behaviors nearly identical to those seen in p11 knockout mice. Restoration of p11 expression specifically in the nucleus accumbens of p11 knockout mice normalized depression-like behaviors. Human nucleus accumbens tissue shows a significant reduction of p11 protein in depressed patients when compared to matched healthy controls. These results suggest that p11 loss in rodent and human nucleus accumbens may contribute to the pathophysiology of depression. Normalization of p11 expression within this brain region with AAV-mediated gene therapy may be of therapeutic value.
DOI 10.1126/scitranslmed.3001079
PubMed ID 20962330
PubMed Central ID PMC3026098
Back to Top