Skip to main content

Does neurotropin-3 have a therapeutic implication in major depression?

Publication ,  Journal Article
Pae, C-U; Marks, DM; Han, C; Patkar, AA; Steffens, D
Published in: Int J Neurosci
November 2008

Although several classes of antidepressants are used to treat major depression, there is an unmet need in real clinical practice because not all patients treated with an antidepressant fully recover from their functional impairment. Hence, the development of new antidepressants based on a novel therapeutic mechanism may help in the development of more effective and ideal antidepressive agents. There is emerging evidence suggesting that the etiopathogenesis of depression involves transmitters other than the major neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. Therefore, it has consistently been suggested that an alteration in neuroprotection and synaptic plasticity is associated with the pathogenesis and therapeutic mechanism of depression. Neurotropin-3 (NT3) is an interesting protein that regulates neuronal survival, synaptic plasticity, and neurotransmission. It is widely expressed in the hippocampus and facilitates hippocampal plasticity by regulating neurogenesis. It has been also reported that an infusion of NT3 increases the level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA expression in the cerebral cortex and produces BDNF-like effects that induce cortical tyrosine kinase B phosphorylation. BDNF has been consistently implicated in the pathogenesis of depression and the therapeutic mechanism of antidepressants. It has also been implicated in the treatment effect of mood stabilizers such as lithium. NT3 has demonstrated its possible antidepressant effect in a learned helpless animal model. Animal studies have shown that it also modulates the neurotransmitters, serotonin and noradrenaline, which are essential in the development and treatment of depression. Therefore, further studies on the therapeutic implications of NT3 for depression are warranted and are expected for the development of newer, effective antidepressants.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Int J Neurosci

DOI

EISSN

1563-5279

Publication Date

November 2008

Volume

118

Issue

11

Start / End Page

1515 / 1522

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Neurotrophin 3
  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • Neuronal Plasticity
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Humans
  • Depressive Disorder
  • Cell Survival
  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
  • Brain
  • Biogenic Monoamines
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Pae, C.-U., Marks, D. M., Han, C., Patkar, A. A., & Steffens, D. (2008). Does neurotropin-3 have a therapeutic implication in major depression? Int J Neurosci, 118(11), 1515–1522. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207450802174589
Pae, Chi-Un, David M. Marks, Changsu Han, Ashwin A. Patkar, and David Steffens. “Does neurotropin-3 have a therapeutic implication in major depression?Int J Neurosci 118, no. 11 (November 2008): 1515–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207450802174589.
Pae C-U, Marks DM, Han C, Patkar AA, Steffens D. Does neurotropin-3 have a therapeutic implication in major depression? Int J Neurosci. 2008 Nov;118(11):1515–22.
Pae, Chi-Un, et al. “Does neurotropin-3 have a therapeutic implication in major depression?Int J Neurosci, vol. 118, no. 11, Nov. 2008, pp. 1515–22. Pubmed, doi:10.1080/00207450802174589.
Pae C-U, Marks DM, Han C, Patkar AA, Steffens D. Does neurotropin-3 have a therapeutic implication in major depression? Int J Neurosci. 2008 Nov;118(11):1515–1522.

Published In

Int J Neurosci

DOI

EISSN

1563-5279

Publication Date

November 2008

Volume

118

Issue

11

Start / End Page

1515 / 1522

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Neurotrophin 3
  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • Neuronal Plasticity
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Humans
  • Depressive Disorder
  • Cell Survival
  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
  • Brain
  • Biogenic Monoamines