星形胶质细胞功能障碍在抑郁症发病中的作用研究进展

星型胶质细胞在突触形成、神经元代谢、神经递质传递等方面起重要作用,其退行性病变可引起突触蛋白水平降低、神经元体积减小及神经递质传递异常,进而引起神经精神性疾病的发生。抑郁症患者前额叶皮层、海马、杏仁核以及前扣带回等多个脑区均有星型胶质细胞密度减低,提示星形胶质细胞与抑郁症发病密切相关。研究表明,能量和营养支持、谷氨酸(glutamate,Glu)转运和代谢、N-甲基-D-天(门)冬氨酸(N-methyl-D-aspartate,NMDA)受体活性调节以及炎症反应异常等星形胶质细胞功能障碍参与抑郁症的发生。本文就星形胶质细胞功能障碍在抑郁症发病机理中的作用进行综述。

Progress in Roles of Astrocyte Dysfunction in the Onset of Depression

Depression is a common mood disorder, but the pathogenesis is still unclear completely. Astrocytes play an important role in providing nutritional support to the formation of synapses, neuronal metabolism and neurotransmission. Therefore, astrocytes degeneration could be responsible for the reducing of the levels of synaptic protein, neuronal size and the abnormalities of neurotransmission. Postmortem studies of brains of the depressed patients showed a decrease in the density of astrocytes in prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, amygdale and anterior cingulated, suggesting that astrocytes are probably related to the onset of depression. There is mounting evidence indicates that the dysfunction of astrocyte in supporting of energy and neurotrophy, the transportation and metabolism of glutamate, the regualation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor activity and the inflammation is a key element in the pathogenesis of depression. We will review the effects of astrocyte dysfunction during the onset of depression.