Abstract
The regulation of the activity of brain monoaminergic systems has been the focus of attention of many studies since the first antidepressant drug emerged 50 years ago. The search for novel antidepressants is deeply linked to the search for fast-acting strategies, taking into account that 2-4 weeks of treatment with classical antidepressant are required before clinical remission of the symptoms becomes evident. In the recent years several hypotheses have been proposed on the basis of the existence of alterations in brain synaptic plasticity in major depression. Recent evidences support a role for 5-HT4 receptors in the pathogenesis of depression as well as in the mechanism of action of antidepressant drugs. In fact, chronic treatment with antidepressant drugs appears to modulate, at different levels, the signaling pathway associated to 5-HT4 receptors, as well as their levels of expression in the brain. Moreover, several experimental studies have identified this receptor subtype as a promising new target for fast-acting antidepressant strategy: the administration of partial agonists of this receptor induces a number of responses similar to those observed after chronic treatment with classical antidepressants, but with a rapid onset of action. They include efficacy in behavioral models of depression, rapid desensitization of 5-HT1A autoreceptors, and modifications in the expression of several molecular markers of brain neuroplasticity.
Although much work remains to be done in order to clarify the real therapeutic potential of these drugs, the evidences reviewed below support the hypothesis that 5-HT4 receptor partial agonists could behave as rapid and effective antidepressants.
Keywords: 5-HT4 receptors, antidepressants, short term treatment, neuroplasticity.
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title:Serotonin 5-HT4 Receptors: A New Strategy for Developing Fast Acting Antidepressants?
Volume: 20 Issue: 23
Author(s): Rebeca Vidal, Elena Castro, Fuencisla Pilar-Cuellar, Jesus Pascual-Brazo, Alvaro Diaz, María Luisa Rojo, Raquel Linge, Alicia Martin, Elsa M. Valdizan and Angel Pazos
Affiliation:
Keywords: 5-HT4 receptors, antidepressants, short term treatment, neuroplasticity.
Abstract: The regulation of the activity of brain monoaminergic systems has been the focus of attention of many studies since the first antidepressant drug emerged 50 years ago. The search for novel antidepressants is deeply linked to the search for fast-acting strategies, taking into account that 2-4 weeks of treatment with classical antidepressant are required before clinical remission of the symptoms becomes evident. In the recent years several hypotheses have been proposed on the basis of the existence of alterations in brain synaptic plasticity in major depression. Recent evidences support a role for 5-HT4 receptors in the pathogenesis of depression as well as in the mechanism of action of antidepressant drugs. In fact, chronic treatment with antidepressant drugs appears to modulate, at different levels, the signaling pathway associated to 5-HT4 receptors, as well as their levels of expression in the brain. Moreover, several experimental studies have identified this receptor subtype as a promising new target for fast-acting antidepressant strategy: the administration of partial agonists of this receptor induces a number of responses similar to those observed after chronic treatment with classical antidepressants, but with a rapid onset of action. They include efficacy in behavioral models of depression, rapid desensitization of 5-HT1A autoreceptors, and modifications in the expression of several molecular markers of brain neuroplasticity.
Although much work remains to be done in order to clarify the real therapeutic potential of these drugs, the evidences reviewed below support the hypothesis that 5-HT4 receptor partial agonists could behave as rapid and effective antidepressants.
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Cite this article as:
Vidal Rebeca, Castro Elena, Pilar-Cuellar Fuencisla, Pascual-Brazo Jesus, Diaz Alvaro, Rojo Luisa María, Linge Raquel, Martin Alicia, Valdizan M. Elsa and Pazos Angel, Serotonin 5-HT4 Receptors: A New Strategy for Developing Fast Acting Antidepressants?, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2014; 20 (23) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/13816128113196660734
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/13816128113196660734 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
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