Study on the astrocyte-derived TSP-1 as an ECT target molecule of refractory depression.

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K18883
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Biological pharmacy
• Research Institution: Department of Clinical Research, National Hospital Organization Kure Medical Center
• Principal Investigator: Okada-Tsuchioka Mami 独立行政法人国立病院機構(呉医療センター臨床研究部), その他部局等, 研究員(移行) (30517280)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: シナプス新生 / うつ病 / アストロサイト / thrombospondin-1 / 電気けいれん療法

Outline of Final Research Achievements

I have focused on synaptogenesis-related factor, thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), as a novel target molecule of refractory depression. The aim of this study was to clarify how TSP-1 contributes to the pathology of depression and the action of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Serum TSP-1 in patients with refractory depression showed a significant decrease specific to female patients but did not change before and after ECT. These results suggest that TSP-1 in serum is possible to be a gender-dependent trait marker.
As basic research, synaptogenesis-related gene expression was investigated in the hippocampus of the male chronically corticosterone-administered depression model, but no significant change was observed. It seems necessary to investigate focusing on gender difference in the future.

Free Research Field

神経精神薬理学