* Abnormal retinoid and TrkB signaling in the prefrontal cortex in mood disorders.
- The prefrontal cortex shows structural and functional alterations in mood disorders. Retinoid signaling, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and its receptor TrkB are reported to be involved in depression. Here, we found that mRNA levels of key elements of retinoid signaling were significantly reduced in the postmortem dorsolateral prefrontal cortex/anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) from elderly depressed patients who did not die from suicide. Decreased mRNA levels of BDNF and TrkB isoforms were also found. Similar alterations were observed in rats subjected to chronic unpredictable mild stress. Along with neurons immunopositive for both retinoic acid receptor-α (RARα) and TrkB, a positive correlation between mRNA levels of the 2 receptors was found in the ACC of control subjects but not of depressed patients. In vitro studies showed that RARα was able to bind to and transactivate the TrkB promoter via a putative RA response element within the TrkB promoter. In conclusion, the retinoid and BDNF-TrkB signaling in the prefrontal cortex are compromised in mood disorders, and the transcriptional upregulation of TrkB by RARα provide a possible mechanism for their interaction. The retinoid signaling pathway that may activate TrkB expression will be an alternative novel target for BDNF-based antidepressant treatment.
=>機能の, 関数の, 機能する, 機能上の, 実用的な, 機能的な
Overview of adj functional
The adj functional has 6 senses (first 2 from tagged texts)
1. (3) functional -- (designed for or capable of a particular function or use; "a style of writing
in which every word is functional"; "functional architecture")
2. (1) functional -- (involving or affecting function rather than physiology; "functional deafness")
3. functional -- (relating to or based on function especially as opposed to structure; "the problem
now is not a constitutional one; it is a functional one"; "delegates elected on a functional rather
than a geographical basis")
4. functional, usable, useable, operable, operational -- (fit or ready for use or service; "the
toaster was still functional even after being dropped"; "the lawnmower is a bit rusty but still
usable"; "an operational aircraft"; "the dishwasher is now in working order")
5. functional -- (designed for or adapted to a function or use; "functional education selects
knowledge that is concrete and usable rather than abstract and theoretical"; "functional
architecture")
6. running, operative, functional, working -- ((of e.g. a machine) performing or capable of
performing; "in running (or working) order"; "a functional set of brakes")
--- WordNet end ---