Novel Therapeutic Target for Neural Regeneration, Stroke and Anti-depressants

Unmet need
Current anti-depressants in the market have various limitations including lack of broad-spectrum drugs, unexpected side effects, toxicity and low efficacy for certain patients. New generation of anti-depressants based on most recent biomedical discoveries concerning depression are urgently needed.

Technology overview
Johns Hopkins researchers have identified novel function of Gadd45b in regulating chromatin and epigenetic DNA methylation levels of promoters for specific types of neuronal genes, including those essential for neuronal plasticity and cell survival. Gadd45b is a member of a family of proteins with roles in modulating cell response to both genotoxic stress and physiological stress. Few of the key Gadd45b-dependent targets include BDNF and FGF. The researchers further found that effects of antidepressant methods (such as electroconvulsive treatment or voluntary exercise) in adult hippocampus are due to Gadd45b up-regulation in neurons. The most effective anti-depressant electroconvulsive treatment induces a robust expression of Gadd45b. Augmentation of Gadd45b and its associated pathways can potentially be used as a novel means to modulate cellular epigenetic status and for treating depression and anxiety as well as enhancing learning and memory.
 
Stage of development
Discovery
 
Publications
Ma DK et al. Science 323(5917), 1074–7, 2009
 

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