Depression: Predisposition already acquired in the womb?
(firmenpresse) - Depression: Predisposition already acquired in the womb?
Can a person actually be born with a predisposition to depression? The Austrian Science Fund FWF is currently supporting a new project to investigate this challenging question. Specifically, a research team led by Prof. Daniela Pollak at the Medical University of Vienna is attempting to determine whether immune responses in pregnant women lead to a subsequent tendency for depression in their children. There is already some evidence supporting that maternal infections during pregnancy can have an effect on the development of certain mental illnesses later in life – however, the extent to which this affects depression in particular is not yet known. Scientists are therefore now examining an animal model to analyse cellular and molecular processes that can lead to such a predisposition.
It is a frightening thought – but the scientific evidence is clear: Influences that an expectant mother is exposed to can have a negative effect on the child's mental development. In fact, it is generally accepted that infections suffered by the mother during pregnancy can contribute to an increased likelihood for schizophrenia and autism in their children. As part of a three-year project of the Austrian Science Fund FWF, Prof. Daniela Pollak-Monje Quiroga at the Department of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology of the Medical University of Vienna is now investigating whether this also applies to depression.
Of Mice & Men
The first objective of her work on mice, which are used here as model organisms, is to determine whether depression-like behaviour in children in later life can actually be caused by immune responses during pregnancy. Prof. Pollak-Monje Quiroga explains her other objectives: "We are also interested in whether such an immune response is linked to a change in brain development and whether that is based on the inhibition of a specific growth factor. Moreover, we are analysing the associated structural, anatomical, molecular and functional changes in the brain."
Prof. Pollak-Monje Quiroga's work is of great social and scientific importance. Mood disorders like depression are among the most prevalent and debilitating forms of mental illness – but too little is known today about the cellular and molecular processes that mediate them. For Prof. Pollak-Monje Quiroga, this is also one of the reasons why there are only a limited number of options for diagnosing and treating such disorders: "There is no independent objective diagnostic tool, such as a biomarker, for depression. We are reliant on the co-occurrence of a cluster of symptoms as a criterion. The same situation applies to treatment – substances that interact with monoamines, which are specific neurotransmitters – are most frequently used. However, their impact was discovered purely by chance more than 50 years ago and treatment with these compounds is characterised by a delayed onset of therapeutic effect and a range of adverse side effects. For a large proportion of patients, these drugs are even completely ineffective."
To help improve this situation, the scientist will spend the next three years examining the cellular and molecular processes that can lead to depression. However, she is also going one step further: "We will also look at the genetic aspects. It may be that certain genetic predispositions can be a factor in maternal immune responses during pregnancy, leading to a subsequently higher predisposition to depression. We will clarify this."
A Matter of Nerves
Prof. Pollak-Monje Quiroga’s work is based on the assumption that neurogenesis – the generation of neurons – in the adult hippocampus has an effect on the development of depression. The regeneration of neurons in adults actually follows the exact same pattern that it does during embryonic development, leading Prof. Pollak-Monje Quiroga to consider that even during this embryonic stage of neurogenesis, the seeds could already be sown for subsequent depression. This is a consideration that is now being investigated.
This three-year, FWF-supported project is the first comprehensive study of the effect of maternal infection during pregnancy on the onset of depression in later life. The findings of this study will be invaluable for both basic research in neuroscience and for identifying new treatment options.
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Unternehmensinformation / Kurzprofil:
FWF Austrian Science Fund
The Austrian Science Fund (FWF) is Austria's central funding organization for basic research.
The purpose of the FWF is to support the ongoing development of Austrian science and basic research at a high international level. In this way, the FWF makes a significant contribution to cultural development, to the advancement of our knowledge-based society, and thus to the creation of value and wealth in Austria.
Scientific Contact:
Prof. Daniela Pollak-Monje Quiroga
Medical University of Vienna
Dept. of Neurophysiology and Neuropharmacology
Schwarzspanierstraße 17,I
1090 Vienna, Austria
T +43 / 1 / 40160 - 31270
E daniela.pollak(at)meduniwien.ac.at
Austrian Science Fund FWF:
Marc Seumenicht
Haus der Forschung
Sensengasse 1
1090 Vienna, Austria
T +43 / 1 / 505 67 40 - 8111
E marc.seumenicht(at)fwf.ac.at
W http://www.fwf.ac.at
Copy Editing & Distribution:
PR&D – Public Relations for Research & Education
Mariannengasse 8
1090 Vienna, Austria
T +43 / 1 / 505 70 44
E contact(at)prd.at
W http://www.prd.at
Datum: 02.02.2015 - 13:06 Uhr
Sprache: Deutsch
News-ID 368348
Anzahl Zeichen: 4491
contact information:
Contact person: Till C. Jelitto
Town:
Vienna
Phone: 0043 1 505 70 44
Kategorie:
Healthcare & Medical
Typ of Press Release: Erfolgsprojekt
type of sending: Veröffentlichung
Date of sending: 02.02.2015
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