title: The ceramide system as a novel antidepressant target.
abstract: Major depression is a systems disorder which impairs not only central nervous system aspects of mood and behavior but also peripheral organ systems. Current views on the pathogenesis and treatment of depression are predominantly based on proteins and transmitters and thus are difficult to reconcile central with peripheral pathomechanisms. Recent research showed that there is also a lipid-based pathway involved in the pathology of depression, which is activated by psychosocial stress, oxidative stress, or inflammation. Inducible dysfunction of the ceramide pathway, which is abundant in the brain as well as in peripheral organs, may account for mood disorder, behavioral symptoms, and further promote inflammation and oxidative stress in peripheral systems. As such, the lipid ceramide pathway may provide the missing link between brain dysfunction and somatic symptoms of depression. Pharmacological interventions that reduce ceramide abundance also show antidepressant action and may promise a better treatment of major depression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany. Electronic address: johannes.kornhuber@uk-erlangen.de.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kornhuber
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Katrin Anne
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reichel
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Erich
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gulbins
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002518:Ceramides / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D002518:Ceramides
keywords: acid sphingomyelinase; ceramide; depression; inflammation; neurogenesis; stress