Attenuated palmitoylation of serotonin receptor 5-HT1A in brain affects receptor functions and triggers depressive symptoms
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ABSTRACT: The serotonergic system and in particular serotonin 1A receptor (5-HT1AR) are critically implicated in major depressive disorder (MDD), although underlying mechanisms remain enigmatic. Here we demonstrated that 5-HT1AR is palmitoylated in human and rodent brains and identified ZDHHC21 as a major palmitoyl-transferase, whose depletion reduced palmitoylation and consequently signaling functions of 5-HT1AR. Two rodent models for depression show reduced brain ZDHHC21 expression in conjunction with attenuated 5-HT1AR palmitoylation. Moreover, selective knock-down of ZDHHC21 in murine forebrain by itself sufficed to provoke depressive symptoms, demonstrating a causal relationship between 5-HT1AR palmitoylation and depression. Regarding the underlying mechanism, we identified the microRNA miR-30e as a negative regulator of Zdhhc21 expression. By analysis of the post-mortem samples from suicide MDD victims we also found ZDHHC21 expression as well as palmitoylation of 5-HT1AR to be specifically reduced within the prefrontal cortex (PFC), a brain area critically involved in the pathogenesis of depressive symptoms. Our study provides evidence for transcriptional downregulation of 5-HT1AR palmitoylation as a central mechanism in the etiology of depression and even suicide, in effect making the restoration of 5-HT1AR palmitoylation a promising clinical strategy for the treatment of major depressive disorder.
INSTRUMENT(S): Q Exactive
ORGANISM(S): Mus Musculus (mouse)
TISSUE(S): Brain
DISEASE(S): Major Depressive Disorder
SUBMITTER: Monika Zareba-Koziol
LAB HEAD: Wlodarczyk Jakub
PROVIDER: PXD012736 | Pride | 2019-07-16
REPOSITORIES: Pride
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