Discovery

Uncontrollable stress is a major contributing factor for neuropsychiatric disorders. For many years, people try to avoid stress, since it is known that acute and chronic stress can have serious effects on the brain. And, recently the researchers from Yale School of Medicine have succeed to find a receptor that plays a key role in that harmful cycle.

The finding hopefully provide new targets for the development of antidepressant medications, as Ronald Duman told to ScienceDaily. Major depression and post-traumatic stress disorders are linked to cellular changes in the hippocampus, a part of the brain that is particularly susceptible to stress. The underlying mechanisms that block the growth of new neurons, are needed for antidepressants.

The researchers discovered in this mouse study that when activated, the receptor for IL-1ß prevents the brain from creating new neurons. IL-1ß is a cytokine—or signaling compound—that promotes inflammation. Previous animal studies showed that exposure to stress increases IL-1ß in several brain areas, including the hippocampus. It also has been demonstrated that administering IL-1ß produces several stress-like effects in the hypothalamus, pituitary, and adrenal system as well as the hippocampus.

The team blocked the effects of IL-1ß with an inhibitor, resulting in blockade of cell cycle arrest. So, the study shows how IL-1ß—when activated by acute and chronic stress—arrests the cell cycle.

Adapted from materials provided by Yale University and ScienceDaily

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