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Possible contribution of IGF-1 to depressive disorder

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Abstract

Depression is an illness of unknown origin and involves the dysregulation of many physiological processes disturbed in this disease. It has been postulated that the pathomechanism of depression is complex, and apart from changes in neurotransmitters, a dysregulation of the immune and endocrine systems also plays an important role in the development of this disorder. Recent studies indicate that an impairment of synaptic plasticity in specific areas of the central nervous system (CNS), particularly the hippocampus, may be an important factor in the pathogenesis of depression. The abnormal neural plasticity may be related to alterations in the levels of neurotrophic factors. On this basis, a theory connecting the occurrence of depression with disturbances in neurotrophic factors has gained great attention.

This review summarizes data suggesting a role for the neurotrophic factors – especially insulin-like-growth factor-1 (IGF-1) – as possible targets for therapy in depression in the context of depressive behavior modulation, anti-inflammatory action and neuroprotection.

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Abbreviations

BAD:

Bcl-2-associated death promoter protein

BDNF:

brain-derived neurotrophic factor

CNS:

central nervous system

CTNF:

ciliary neurotrophic factor

GSK-3β:

glycogen synthase kinase-3β

HPA:

hypothalamus-pituitaryadrenal

IFN-γ:

interferon-γ

IGFBP:

insulin-like growth factor binding protein

IGF-1:

insulin-like growth factor-1

IGF-1R:

insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor

IGF-2:

insulin-like growth factor-2

IL-1β:

interleukin-1β

IL-4:

interleukin-4

IL-10:

interleukin-10

iNOS:

inducible NO synthase

IR:

insulin receptor

IRS-1:

insulin receptor substrate-1

LIF:

leukemia inhibitory factor

LPS:

lipopolysaccharide

M6P/IGF-2R:

mannose-6 phosphate/insulin-like growth factor-2 receptor

MAPK/ERK:

mitogen-activated protein kinases/extracellular signal-regulated kinases

mTOR:

mammalian target of rapamycin

NGF:

nerve growth factor

NT-3:

neurotrophin-3

NT-4/5:

neurotrophin-4/5

PI3K/AKT:

phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B

PLC:

phospholipase C

Src:

proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase

TNF-α:

tumor necrosis factor-α.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Experimental Neuroendocrinology, Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Smętna 12, PL 31-343, Poland

    Ewa Szczęsny, Joanna Ślusarczyk, Katarzyna Głombik, Bogusława Budziszewska, Marta Kubera, Władysław Lasoń & Agnieszka Basta-Kaim

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  1. Ewa Szczęsny
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  2. Joanna Ślusarczyk
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Correspondence to Agnieszka Basta-Kaim.

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Szczęsny, E., Ślusarczyk, J., Głombik, K. et al. Possible contribution of IGF-1 to depressive disorder. Pharmacol. Rep 65, 1622–1631 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1016/S1734-1140(13)71523-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1734-1140(13)71523-8

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