Alpha2-antiplasmin deficiency affects depression and anxiety-like behavior and apoptosis induced by stress in mice.

OBJECTIVES

Depression is a psychiatric disorder that affects about 10% of the world's population and is accompanied by anxiety. Depression and anxiety are often caused by various stresses. However, the etiology of depression and anxiety remains unknown. It has been reported that alpha2-antiplasmin (2AP) not only inhibits plasmin but also has various functions such as cytokine production and cell growth. This study aimed to determine the roles of 2AP on the stress-induced depression and anxiety.

METHODS

We investigated the mild repeated restraint stress-induced depressive and anxiety-like behavior in the 2AP and 2AP mice using the social interaction test (SIT), sucrose preference test (SPT), and elevated plus maze (EPM).

RESULTS

The stresses such as the mild repeated restraint stress suppressed 2AP expression in the hippocampus of mice, and the treatment of fluoxetine (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor [SSRI]) recovered the stress-caused 2AP suppression. We also showed that 2AP deficiency promoted the mild restraint stress-stimulated depression-like behavior such as social withdrawal and apathy and apoptosis in mice. In contrast, 2AP deficiency attenuated the mild restraint stress induced the anxiety-like behavior in mice.

CONCLUSIONS

2AP affects the pathogenesis of depression and anxiety induced by stress.