Metabolite profiling of antidepressant drug action reveals novel drug targets beyond monoamine elevation

Transl Psychiatry. 2011 Dec 13;1(12):e58. doi: 10.1038/tp.2011.56.

Abstract

Currently used antidepressants elevate monoamine levels in the synaptic cleft. There is good reason to assume that this is not the only source for antidepressant therapeutic activities and that secondary downstream effects may be relevant for alleviating symptoms of depression. We attempted to elucidate affected biochemical pathways downstream of monoamine reuptake inhibition by interrogating metabolomic profiles in DBA/2Ola mice after chronic paroxetine treatment. Metabolomic changes were investigated using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry profiling and group differences were analyzed by univariate and multivariate statistics. Pathways affected by antidepressant treatment were related to energy metabolism, amino acid metabolism and hormone signaling. The identified pathways reveal further antidepressant therapeutic action and represent targets for drug development efforts. A comparison of the central nervous system with blood plasma metabolite alterations identified GABA, galactose-6-phosphate and leucine as biomarker candidates for assessment of antidepressant treatment effects in the periphery.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / pharmacology*
  • Behavior, Animal / drug effects
  • Biogenic Monoamines / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Biogenic Monoamines / biosynthesis*
  • Biomarkers / metabolism
  • Drug Delivery Systems / methods*
  • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
  • Hippocampus / drug effects
  • Hippocampus / metabolism*
  • Metabolome / drug effects*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred DBA
  • Paroxetine / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation
  • Biogenic Monoamines
  • Biomarkers
  • Paroxetine