Increased Axin expression enhances adult hippocampal neurogenesis and exerts an antidepressant effect.

ABSTRACT: Major depressive disorders are emerging health problems that affect millions of people worldwide. However, treatment options and targets for drug development are limited. Impaired adult hippocampal neurogenesis is emerging as a key contributor to the pathology of major depressive disorders. We previously demonstrated that increasing the expression of the multifunctional scaffold protein Axis inhibition protein (Axin) by administration of the small molecule XAV939 enhances embryonic neurogenesis and affects social interaction behaviors. This prompted us to examine whether increasing Axin protein level can enhance adult hippocampal neurogenesis and thus contribute to mood regulation. Here, we report that stabilizing Axin increases adult hippocampal neurogenesis and exerts an antidepressant e

SUBMITTER: Chen WW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6362220 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature