Regulation of Circadian Genes by the MAPK Pathway: Implications for Rapid Antidepressant Action

• Published in: Neuroscience bulletin Vol. 36; no. 1; pp. 66 - 76
• Main Authors: Wang, Xin-Ling, Yuan, Kai, Zhang, Wen, Li, Su-Xia, Gao, George Fu, Lu, Lin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Singapore Springer Singapore 01.01.2020; Springer
• Subjects: Affect - physiology; Anatomy; Anesthesiology; Animals; Antidepressants; Antidepressive Agents - therapeutic use; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Circadian Rhythm - physiology; Depression, Mental; Depressive Disorder, Major - metabolism; Depressive Disorder, Major - therapy; Genes; Homeopathy; Human Physiology; Humans; Ketamine - therapeutic use; MAP Kinase Signaling System - physiology; Materia medica and therapeutics; Mitogens; Neurology; Neurosciences; Pain Medicine; Protein kinases; Review; Sleep Deprivation; Therapeutics; MAPK pathway; Circadian system; Rapid antidepressant therapy; Major depressive disorder
• ISSN: 1673-7067; 1995-8218
• DOI: 10.1007/s12264-019-00358-9

Accumulating evidence suggests that the circadian rhythm plays a critical role in mood regulation, and circadian disturbances are often found in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway is involved in mediating entrainment of the circadian system. Furthermore, the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway has been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of MDD and the rapid onset of action of antidepressant therapies, both pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical. This review provides an overview of the involvement of the MAPK/ERK pathway in modulating the circadian system in the rapid action of antidepressant therapies. This pathway holds much promise for the development of novel, rapid-onset-of-action therapeutics for MDD.