TARGETS FOR DEPRESSION AND BIPOLAR DISORDERS

摘要

The expression patterns of biomarker genes reflect potential common underlying mechanisms for fast and slow acting antidepressant modalities. Biomarker genes were identified by examining the transcriptional changes in seven different brain regions of the rat brain induced by three clinically-effective antidepressant treatments: electro convulsive therapy (ECT), sleep deprivation (SD), and fluoxetine (FLX), the most commonly used slow onset antidepressant. The transcripts concomitantly regulated by several antidepressant treatments identified in the present invention, are therefore useful as biomarkers of medical conditions of the nervous system, e.g., but not limited to, depression (i.e., MD) and bipolar disorder, and are targets for fast onset, long duration antidepressants.