Department of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Sensory Functions, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Suicide Prevention Center, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Via Grottarossa 1035-1039, 00189 Rome, Italy.
Molecules. 2011 Mar 23;16(3):2688-713. doi: 10.3390/molecules16032688.
Nowadays depression and suicide are two of the most important worldwide public health problems. Although their specific molecular mechanisms are still largely unknown, glycosides can play a fundamental role in their pathogenesis. These molecules act presumably through the up-regulation of plasticity-related proteins: probably they can have a presynaptic facilitatory effect, through the activation of several intracellular signaling pathways that include molecules like protein kinase A, Rap-1, cAMP, cADPR and G proteins. These proteins take part in a myriad of brain functions such as cell survival and synaptic plasticity. In depressed suicide victims, it has been found that their activity is strongly decreased, primarily in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. These studies suggest that glycosides can regulate neuroprotection through Rap-1 and other molecules, and may play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of depression and suicide.
如今，抑郁和自杀是全球最重要的公共卫生问题之一。尽管它们的具体分子机制在很大程度上仍然未知，但糖苷可以在它们的发病机制中发挥基础性作用。这些分子可能通过上调与可塑性相关的蛋白起作用：它们可能具有突触前促进作用，通过激活包括蛋白激酶 A、Rap-1、cAMP、cADPR 和 G 蛋白在内的多种细胞内信号通路。这些蛋白参与许多大脑功能，如细胞存活和突触可塑性。在抑郁自杀者中，发现它们的活性大大降低，主要在海马体和前额叶皮层。这些研究表明，糖苷可以通过 Rap-1 和其他分子来调节神经保护作用，并且可能在抑郁和自杀的病理生理学中发挥关键作用。
