Abstract
Research on Substance P (SP) has, until recently, focused on its role in pain and inflammation. However, a report that NK1 receptor antagonists have utility in the treatment of depression has stimulated research into the function of SP and the NK1 receptor in anxiety and depression. The distribution of SP and the NK1 receptor in brain areas implicated in anxiety and depression is initially reviewed. This is followed by evaluation of the preclinical data obtained for SP and NK1 receptor antagonists in behavioral models of depression as well as the phenotype of genetically modified animals lacking the genes encoding for the NK1 receptor or for SP. The weight of the evidence supports antidepressant and anxiolytic activity of NK1 receptor antagonists. However, many of the studies do not control for nonspecific effects of the compounds, and when enantiomers that lack activity at the NK1 receptor are included, the results, in some cases, suggest that blockade of NK1 receptors does not account for the observed behavioral activity. Finally, clinical studies in depressed patients assessing SP levels in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid as well as the effect of NK1 receptor antagonists are reviewed. The clinical studies are a mixture of positive, failed and negative studies on the antidepressant activity of NK1 receptor antagonists, not unlike the early clinical results obtained with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.
Keywords: substance p, nk receptor, depression, anxiety, clinical studies
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title: Do Substance P and the NK1 Receptor have a Role in Depression and Anxiety?
Volume: 11 Issue: 12
Author(s): S. McLean
Affiliation:
Keywords: substance p, nk receptor, depression, anxiety, clinical studies
Abstract: Research on Substance P (SP) has, until recently, focused on its role in pain and inflammation. However, a report that NK1 receptor antagonists have utility in the treatment of depression has stimulated research into the function of SP and the NK1 receptor in anxiety and depression. The distribution of SP and the NK1 receptor in brain areas implicated in anxiety and depression is initially reviewed. This is followed by evaluation of the preclinical data obtained for SP and NK1 receptor antagonists in behavioral models of depression as well as the phenotype of genetically modified animals lacking the genes encoding for the NK1 receptor or for SP. The weight of the evidence supports antidepressant and anxiolytic activity of NK1 receptor antagonists. However, many of the studies do not control for nonspecific effects of the compounds, and when enantiomers that lack activity at the NK1 receptor are included, the results, in some cases, suggest that blockade of NK1 receptors does not account for the observed behavioral activity. Finally, clinical studies in depressed patients assessing SP levels in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid as well as the effect of NK1 receptor antagonists are reviewed. The clinical studies are a mixture of positive, failed and negative studies on the antidepressant activity of NK1 receptor antagonists, not unlike the early clinical results obtained with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
McLean S., Do Substance P and the NK1 Receptor have a Role in Depression and Anxiety?, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2005; 11 (12) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612053764779
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612053764779 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
"Tuberculosis Prevention, Diagnosis and Drug Discovery"
The Nobel Prize-winning discoveries of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and streptomycin have enabled an appropriate diagnosis and an effective treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Since then, many newer diagnosis methods and drugs have been saving millions of lives. Despite advances in the past, TB is still a leading cause of infectious disease mortality ...read more
Current Pharmaceutical challenges in the treatment and diagnosis of neurological dysfunctions
Neurological dysfunctions (MND, ALS, MS, PD, AD, HD, ALS, Autism, OCD etc..) present significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, often necessitating innovative approaches and therapeutic interventions. This thematic issue aims to explore the current pharmaceutical landscape surrounding neurological disorders, shedding light on the challenges faced by researchers, clinicians, and ...read more
Emerging and re-emerging diseases
Faced with a possible endemic situation of COVID-19, the world has experienced two important phenomena, the emergence of new infectious diseases and/or the resurgence of previously eradicated infectious diseases. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of such diseases has also undergone changes. This context, in turn, may have a strong relationship with ...read more
Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Treatment: Standard of Care and Recent Advances
In this thematic issue, we aim to provide a standard of care of the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. The editor will invite authors from different countries who will write review articles of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. The Diagnosis, Staging, Surgical Treatment, Non-Surgical Treatment all ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Current Patents on Osteoinductive Molecules for Bone Tissue Engineering
Recent Patents on Biomedical Engineering (Discontinued) Safety of Systemic Biologic Agents in the Treatment of Non-malignant Skin Disorders
Current Drug Safety Recent Updates on Development of Drug Molecules for Human African Trypanosomiasis
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Current Treatment of Psoriasis with Biologics
Current Drug Discovery Technologies Non Smoking for Successful Aging: Therapeutic Perspectives
Current Pharmaceutical Design EHT0202 in Alzheimers Disease: A 3-Month, Randomized, Placebo- Controlled, Double-Blind Study
Current Alzheimer Research An Overview on Inventions Related to Ginger Processing and Products for food and Pharmaceutical Applications
Recent Patents on Food, Nutrition & Agriculture Practical Lessons from Amyloid Immunotherapy Trials in Alzheimer Disease
Current Alzheimer Research A Pharmacological Review of Five Widely Used Traditional Medicinal Plants for Sedative-Hypnotic Effects in Bangladesh
Current Traditional Medicine The use of Immunoglobulin Therapy in Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets Opioid Antagonists for Pharmacological Treatment of Alcohol Dependence – A Critical Review
Current Drug Abuse Reviews Prospect of a Dopamine Contribution in the Next Generation of Antidepressant Drugs: The Triple Reuptake Inhibitors
Current Drug Targets Lamotrigine Induced Whole Body Tics: A Case Report and Literature Review
Current Drug Safety Getting in Sync: A New Ready-to-use Biofield Resonance Device (Vita Chip) Reduces Chronic Pain and Increases Wellbeing
Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering (Discontinued) Src Family Kinases in the Central Nervous System: Their Emerging Role in Pathophysiology of Migraine and Neuropathic Pain
Current Neuropharmacology Anesthetic Pharmacology and Perioperative Considerations for Heart Transplantation
Current Clinical Pharmacology Biochemical Markers of Autoimmune Diseases of the Nervous System
Current Pharmaceutical Design Antiangiogenesis in Myelodysplastic Syndrome
Current Cancer Drug Targets Mouse Models of Familial Hemiplegic Migraine for Studying Migraine Pathophysiology
Current Neuropharmacology Potential Phytotherapeutic Approaches for the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease: An Overview
Current Traditional Medicine