A novel antidepressant therapy

Current antidepressants usually marketed compensate the low level of serotonin, the main cause of depression, anxiety and mood problems. These compounds selectively block the re-uptake of neurotransmitter into the synaptic space. Serotonin still longer available for the interaction with its receptors located onto the plasma membrane of post synaptic neurons. Unfortunately, clinical studies reported an high variability in the response and some patients acquired resistance after few months of treatment. Furthermore, clinical efficacy has a lag of two or three weeks after starting the therapy, before obtaining significant benefit for patients.
Scientists for the Columbia University demonstrated that a possible responsible of the resistance is an auto-receptor for serotonin located onto the membrane of pre synaptic neurons that regulates serotonin release with negative feedback. Mouse carrying lower level of this receptor than normal mouse showed higher tolerance to environmental stress and other stimuli and a better response to traditional inhibitors. In human, high level of auto- receptor causes low reactivity of amygdale, a brain portion crucial to overcome stress and difficult situations. Inhibitors of this serotonin auto-receptor will be a novel drug useful to treat resistant forms of depression and anxiety or to improve activity of current antidepressant compounds.