Ketamine and epigenetic processes in depression, intersection between serotonergic and glutamatergic pathways
Journal of Psychedelic Studies March 29, 2024 Arghavan Nepton, Hesam Farahani, Monnica T. Williams et al. 2 citations
Depression involves a wide range of biological changes, from gene variations to epigenetic modifications, not only serotonergic mechanisms. Therapy response to antidepressants is linked to epigenetic regulation of genes in the serotonergic system. Persistent depressive symptoms may involve stable molecular adaptations in the brain at the epigenetic level. Responses to psychotherapy for mood disorders correlate with epigenetic alterations, including in genes regulating the serotonergic and glutamatergic systems and the HPA axis. Ketamine's antidepressant effects may be linked to epigenetic alterations, and further exploration of BDNF's relation with ketamine in epigenetic signaling is warranted. Understanding these mechanisms may help gauge therapy efficacy and duration.