Sigma receptors: potential targets for a new class of antidepressant drug.
Despite the widespread and devastating impact of depression on society, our current understanding of its pathogenesis is limited. Likewise, existing treatments are inadequate, providing relief to only a subset of people suffering from depression. The search for more effective antidepressant drugs includes the investigation of new molecular targets. Among them, current data suggests that sigma receptors are involved in multiple processes effecting antidepressant-like actions in vivo and in vitro. This review summarizes accumulated evidence supporting a role for sigma receptors in antidepressant effects and provides a conceptual framework for delineating their potential roles over the course of antidepressant treatment.
Fishback
James A
JA
School of Pharmacy, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA.
Robson
Matthew J
MJ
Xu
Yan-Tong
YT
Matsumoto
Rae R
RR
D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter / Q000378:metabolism; D017480:Receptors, sigma / Q000819:agonists / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter; D017480:Receptors, sigma