“…We have observed that DHEA and DHEAS levels are significantly lower in suicide attempters in comparison with non‐attempters. Our findings are consistent with the results of some prospective studies, suggesting an association of lower DHEAS levels with depression . Also, a recent study found that higher DHEAS levels were associated with reduced risk of developing depressive symptoms .…”
“…We have observed that DHEA and DHEAS levels are significantly lower in suicide attempters in comparison with non‐attempters. Our findings are consistent with the results of some prospective studies, suggesting an association of lower DHEAS levels with depression . Also, a recent study found that higher DHEAS levels were associated with reduced risk of developing depressive symptoms .…”
“…Third, subclinical cerebrovascular disease, low‐grade inflammation and low sexual hormone levels could play a role in the development of both conditions (Vaughan, Corbin and Goveas, ; Veronese et al ., ; Taylor, Aizenstein and Alexopoulos, ). Our data seem to support this hypothesis because the association of pre‐frailty and frailty with depression was strong before the adjustments for potential confounders (pre‐frail had an increased risk of depression of about two times and frail of more than five times compared with robust people).…”
“…This suggests a dysregulation of endogenous production of DHEA and DHEAS in the brain in MDD. Indeed, lower DHEA in women during peri‐menopause and lower DHEAS concentration in both elderly men and women in plasma have been found to be related to higher depression symptoms and a higher prevalence of depression, while higher serum DHEAS significantly reduced the risk of developing depressive symptoms . It should be noted though that conflicting findings also exist , possibly due to differences in study design.…”
Altered levels of steroids have been reported in the brain, cerebral spinal fluid and plasma of patients with mood disorders. Neuroimaging studies have reported both functional and structural alterations in mood disorders, for instance in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). In order to determine whether the endogenous production of steroids is altered in the ACC and DLPFC of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) or bipolar disorder (BPD), quantitative real-time PCR was performed to detect mRNA expression level of key enzymes in the steroid biosynthetic pathways. In MDD, a significant decrease in mRNA level of cytochrome P450 17A1 (CYP17A1, synthesizing C19 ketosteroids) in the ACC and a significant increase in mRNA levels of hydroxysteroid sulfotransferase 2A1 [SULT2A1, catalyzing the sulfate conjugation of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)] were observed in the DLPFC, suggesting alterations in DHEA and its sulfate metabolite DHEAS levels. Decreased intensity and distribution of CYP17A1 immunohistochemical staining was found in the ACC of MDD patients. Interestingly, there was a significant positive correlation between the mRNA levels of CYP17A1 and tyrosine-related kinase B (TrkB) full length isoform. In a unique post-mortem human brain slice culture paradigm, BDNF mRNA expression was found to be significantly increased following incubation with DHEA. Together, these data indicate a close relationship between DHEA and BDNF-TrkB pathways in depression. Furthermore, in the DLPFC, higher mRNA levels of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-1 (HSD11B1, reducing cortisone to the active hormone cortisol) and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (STAR, facilitating the shuttle of cholesterol through the intermembrane space) were found in the MDD patients and BPD patients, respectively. In conclusion, this study suggests the presence of a disturbance in the endogenous synthesis of DHEA and DHEAS in mood disorders, which has a close relationship with BDNF-TrkB signaling.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.