title: Oxidative stress markers in affective disorders.
abstract: Affective disorders are a medical condition with a complex biological pattern of etiology, involving genetic and epigenetic factors, along with different environmental stressors. Increasing numbers of studies indicate that induction of oxidative and nitrosative stress (O&NS) pathways, which is accompanied by immune-inflammatory response, might play an important role in the pathogenic mechanisms underlying many major psychiatric disorders, including depression and bipolar disorder. Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species have been shown to impair the brain function by modulating activity of principal neurotransmitter (e.g., glutamatergic) systems involved in the neurobiology of depression. Both preclinical and clinical studies revealed that depression is associated with altered levels of oxidative stress markers and typically reduced concentrations of several endogenous antioxidant compounds, such as glutathione, vitamin E, zinc and coenzyme Q10, or enzymes, including glutathione peroxidase, and with an impairment of the total antioxidant status. These oxidative stress parameters can be normalized by successful antidepressant therapy. On the other hand, some antioxidants (zinc, N-acetylcysteine, omega-3 free fatty acids) may exhibit antidepressant properties or enhance standard antidepressant therapy. These observations introduce new potential targets for the development of therapeutic interventions based on antioxidant compounds. The present paper reviews selected animal and human studies providing evidence that oxidative stress is implicated in the pathophysiology and treatment of depression and bipolar disorder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Faculty of Medicine, Kopernika 21a, PL 31-501 Kraków, Poland. siwekm@interia.pl; sowa@if-pan.krakow.pl.
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Siwek
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sowa-Kućma
authors.forename: Dominika
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dudek
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Styczeń
authors.forename: Bernadeta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Szewczyk
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kotarska
authors.forename: Paulina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Misztakk
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pilc
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wolak
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nowak
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D015415:Biomarkers