Molecular Biomarkers of Electroconvulsive Therapy Effects and Clinical Response: Understanding the Present to Shape the Future
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) represents an effective intervention for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). One priority of this research field is the clarification of ECT response mechanisms and the identification of biomarkers predicting its outcomes. We propose an overview of the molecular stu...
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MDPI AG
2021-08-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/9/1120 |
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| author | Elisabetta Maffioletti Rosana Carvalho Silva Marco Bortolomasi Bernhard T. Baune Massimo Gennarelli Alessandra Minelli |
| author_facet | Elisabetta Maffioletti Rosana Carvalho Silva Marco Bortolomasi Bernhard T. Baune Massimo Gennarelli Alessandra Minelli |
| author_sort | Elisabetta Maffioletti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) represents an effective intervention for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). One priority of this research field is the clarification of ECT response mechanisms and the identification of biomarkers predicting its outcomes. We propose an overview of the molecular studies on ECT, concerning its course and outcome prediction, including also animal studies on electroconvulsive seizures (ECS), an experimental analogue of ECT. Most of these investigations underlie biological systems related to major depressive disorder (MDD), such as the neurotrophic and inflammatory/immune ones, indicating effects of ECT on these processes. Studies about neurotrophins, like the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), have shown evidence concerning ECT neurotrophic effects. The inflammatory/immune system has also been studied, suggesting an acute stress reaction following an ECT session. However, at the end of the treatment, ECT produces a reduction in inflammatory-associated biomarkers such as cortisol, TNF-alpha and interleukin 6. Other biological systems, including the monoaminergic and the endocrine, have been sparsely investigated. Despite some promising results, limitations exist. Most of the studies are concentrated on one or few markers and many studies are relatively old, with small sample sizes and methodological biases. Expression studies on gene transcripts and microRNAs are rare and genetic studies are sparse. To date, no conclusive evidence regarding ECT molecular markers has been reached; however, the future may be just around the corner. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:51:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ff66a3be214c4e358037f05d35174cae |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3425 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:51:50Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Brain Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-ff66a3be214c4e358037f05d35174cae2023-11-22T12:13:23ZengMDPI AGBrain Sciences2076-34252021-08-01119112010.3390/brainsci11091120Molecular Biomarkers of Electroconvulsive Therapy Effects and Clinical Response: Understanding the Present to Shape the FutureElisabetta Maffioletti0Rosana Carvalho Silva1Marco Bortolomasi2Bernhard T. Baune3Massimo Gennarelli4Alessandra Minelli5Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25121 Brescia, ItalyDepartment of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25121 Brescia, ItalyPsychiatric Hospital “Villa Santa Chiara”, 37142 Verona, ItalyDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Münster, 48149 Münster, GermanyDepartment of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25121 Brescia, ItalyDepartment of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25121 Brescia, ItalyElectroconvulsive therapy (ECT) represents an effective intervention for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). One priority of this research field is the clarification of ECT response mechanisms and the identification of biomarkers predicting its outcomes. We propose an overview of the molecular studies on ECT, concerning its course and outcome prediction, including also animal studies on electroconvulsive seizures (ECS), an experimental analogue of ECT. Most of these investigations underlie biological systems related to major depressive disorder (MDD), such as the neurotrophic and inflammatory/immune ones, indicating effects of ECT on these processes. Studies about neurotrophins, like the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), have shown evidence concerning ECT neurotrophic effects. The inflammatory/immune system has also been studied, suggesting an acute stress reaction following an ECT session. However, at the end of the treatment, ECT produces a reduction in inflammatory-associated biomarkers such as cortisol, TNF-alpha and interleukin 6. Other biological systems, including the monoaminergic and the endocrine, have been sparsely investigated. Despite some promising results, limitations exist. Most of the studies are concentrated on one or few markers and many studies are relatively old, with small sample sizes and methodological biases. Expression studies on gene transcripts and microRNAs are rare and genetic studies are sparse. To date, no conclusive evidence regarding ECT molecular markers has been reached; however, the future may be just around the corner.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/9/1120electroconvulsive therapytreatment resistant depressionbiomarkersmolecular mechanismsneurotrophic systeminflammatory system |
| spellingShingle | Elisabetta Maffioletti Rosana Carvalho Silva Marco Bortolomasi Bernhard T. Baune Massimo Gennarelli Alessandra Minelli Molecular Biomarkers of Electroconvulsive Therapy Effects and Clinical Response: Understanding the Present to Shape the Future Brain Sciences electroconvulsive therapy treatment resistant depression biomarkers molecular mechanisms neurotrophic system inflammatory system |
| title | Molecular Biomarkers of Electroconvulsive Therapy Effects and Clinical Response: Understanding the Present to Shape the Future |
| title_full | Molecular Biomarkers of Electroconvulsive Therapy Effects and Clinical Response: Understanding the Present to Shape the Future |
| title_fullStr | Molecular Biomarkers of Electroconvulsive Therapy Effects and Clinical Response: Understanding the Present to Shape the Future |
| title_full_unstemmed | Molecular Biomarkers of Electroconvulsive Therapy Effects and Clinical Response: Understanding the Present to Shape the Future |
| title_short | Molecular Biomarkers of Electroconvulsive Therapy Effects and Clinical Response: Understanding the Present to Shape the Future |
| title_sort | molecular biomarkers of electroconvulsive therapy effects and clinical response understanding the present to shape the future |
| topic | electroconvulsive therapy treatment resistant depression biomarkers molecular mechanisms neurotrophic system inflammatory system |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/9/1120 |
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