Can (immune and other) gene expression help us to treat depression?

Abstract

It is becoming clearer that it might be a combination of different biological processes such as genetic, environmental, and psychological factors, together with immune system, stress response, brain neuroplasticity and the regulation of neurotransmitters, that leads to the development of major depressive disorder (MDD). A growing number of studies have tried to investigate the underlying mechanisms of MDD by analysing the expression levels of genes (mRNA) involved in such biological processes. In this review, I have highlighted a possible key role that gene expression might play in the treatment of MDD. This is critical because many patients do not respond to antidepressant treatment or can experience side effects, causing treatment to be interrupted. Unfortunately, selecting the best antidepressant for each individual is still largely a matter of making an informed guess.

Keywords

• Depression
• Gene expression
• Treatment response