Clinical and preclinical studies have demonstrated that depression, one of the most common psychiatric illnesses, is associated with reduced levels of neurotrophic factors, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), contributing to neuronal atrophy in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus, and reduced hippocampal adult neurogenesis.
The present study demonstrated that miR-27a expression in hippocampal tissues and blood from rats with depression is upregulated, while the expression of VEGFA mRNA and protein is downregulated. miR-27a may participate in the pathological process of depression in rats by regulating VEGFA.
Overall, our results indicate that the measurement of VEGF protein is not a useful marker for depression or response to treatment, and suggest that the measurement of VEGFA mRNA may prove more useful.
These behaviors were associated with an increase 5-HT and DA neurotransmitter content, as well as an increase of VEGF levels in the hippocampus of the post-MI depression rats.
This novel association reveals new molecular mechanisms suggesting the potential role of VEGF in depression development that could help to promote a personalized prediction for this severe common disease.
159 individuals including PSD, stroke without depression (Non-PSD), major depressive disorder (MDD) and normal control groups were recruited and examined the protein and mRNA expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFR2), placental growth factor (PIGF), insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) and insulin-like growth factor receptors (IGF-1R).
A higher VEGF concentration may play a potentially significant role in the pathogenesis of depression, and the expression level appears to be unaffected by additional factors.
However, only a few studies have investigated serum VEGF levels in individuals with depression, or the possible association between genetic variants within the VEGF gene and depression.
Elevated levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are observed in conditions with vessel and neuron damage or pathological arborization and can therefore be detected in chronic inflammatory process, cardiovascular disease and depression.
In this study, we have observed that Nrf2 deletion in mice results in: (i) a depressive-like behavior evaluated as an increase in the immobility time in the tail-suspension test and by a decrease in the grooming time in the splash test, (ii) reduced levels of dopamine and serotonin and increased levels of glutamate in the prefrontal cortex, (iii) altered levels of proteins associated to depression such as VEGF and synaptophysin and (iv) microgliosis.
Our investigation indicates that the higher expression levels of VEGF mRNA in the peripheral leukocytes are associated with the depressive state and their recovery after treatment may be associated with the clinical improvement.