抑郁症治疗新突破！中国科研团队发现抑郁症治疗新机制

Core Insights - The research reveals a common neurobiological mechanism behind the antidepressant effects of ketamine and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for treatment-resistant depression, highlighting the role of adenosine signaling [1][2][3] Group 1: Treatment Landscape - Depression affects nearly 100 million people in China, with about one-third of patients being treatment-resistant [1][2] - Ketamine and ECT are currently the two main effective treatments for treatment-resistant depression, but both have significant side effects [2][3] - The study aims to decouple the efficacy of these treatments from their adverse effects by understanding their underlying mechanisms [2][4] Group 2: Research Findings - The research team utilized genetically encoded fluorescent probes to demonstrate that both ketamine and ECT lead to a significant and sustained increase in adenosine levels in key brain regions [2][3] - The study found that the activation of the adenosine pathway by ketamine occurs through the regulation of cellular energy metabolism, rather than the previously believed NMDA receptor pathway [3][4] - Evidence shows that blocking adenosine signaling negates the antidepressant effects of both treatments, while directly activating this pathway produces clear antidepressant effects [2][3] Group 3: Development of New Therapies - The research team has successfully designed a new ketamine derivative that achieves superior antidepressant effects at lower doses with reduced side effects, indicating strong clinical translation potential [4] - A novel non-drug therapy called acute intermittent hypoxia (aIH) has been developed, which effectively activates the brain's adenosine signaling and shows promise as a safe, non-invasive treatment option [5] - The team is collaborating with clinical teams to advance clinical trials for the aIH therapy, aiming to enhance treatment durability and reduce tolerance issues [5]