Brexanolone therapeutics in post-partum depression involves inhibition of systemic inflammatory pathways.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Brexanolone has rapid, long-lasting, and remarkable efficacy in the treatment of post-partum depression (PPD). We test the hypothesis that brexanolone inhibits proinflammatory modulators and macrophage activation in PPD patients, which may promote clinical recovery.

Methods

PPD patients (N = 18) provided blood samples before and after brexanolone infusion according to the FDA-approved protocol. Patients were unresponsive to prior treatment before brexanolone therapy. Serum was collected to determine neurosteroid levels and whole blood cell lysates were examined for inflammatory markers and in vitro responses to the inflammatory activators lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and imiquimod (IMQ).

Findings

Brexanolone infusion altered multiple neuroactive steroid levels

SUBMITTER: Balan I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9984433 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature