Gsk3β aggravates the depression symptoms in chronic stress mouse model

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Peng, Hong^a | Wang, Hong-bin^{b; *} | Wang, Ling^a | Zhou, Bing^a | Li, Xiao-yong^a | Tan, Jian^a

Affiliations: [a] Department of Anesthesiology, People’s Hospital of Pingxiang City, Jiangxi province, Pingxiang, 337000, P.R. China | [b] Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shangluo Central Hospital, Shangluo, Shaanxi, 726000, P.R. China

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected].

Abstract: Depression caused by genetic and environmental factors is a kind of complicated disease. Here, we find that Gsk3β is highly expressed and phosphorylated in the brain of chronic stress mouse. Inhibition of Gsk3β lead to decreased depression like symptoms which is manifested in open field test, tail-suspension test, forced-swim test and novelty suppressed feeding test. Besides, accompanied by activated Gsk3β, we find that β-catenin is attenuated, and its target genes Cyclin D1 and c-Myc are down-regulated. Meanwhile, it was also found that Gsk3β can inhibit the Erk-Creb-BDNF signaling. These results show that Gsk3β may promote the progression of depression. Therefore, target Gsk3β may be an effective therapeutic strategy.

Keywords: Gsk3β, depression, chronic stress mouse model, behavioral testing, Wnt pathway, BDNF pathway

DOI: 10.3233/JIN-170050

Journal: Journal of Integrative Neuroscience, vol. 17, no. 2, pp. 217-226, 2018