ReviewCurrent drug targets2013
Astrocyte pathology in major depressive disorder: insights from human postmortem brain tissue.
Review in Current drug targets, 2013. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 307 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
307 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 591 citations in OpenAlex.
- Neurometabolics of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in major depressive disorder (MDD): A systematic review and meta-analysis.NeuroImage. Clinical · 2026Pooled it
- Bibliometric insights into astrocytic roles in depression and treatment.Frontiers in cellular neuroscience · 2024Pooled it
- Glial Cell Abnormalities in Major Psychiatric Diseases: A Systematic Review of Postmortem Brain Studies.Molecular neurobiology · 2022Pooled it
- The Association Between Antidepressant Effect of SSRIs and Astrocytes: Conceptual Overview and Meta-analysis of the Literature.Neurochemical research · 2021Pooled it
- Pooled it
- The role of zinc homeostasis in major depressive disorder: heterogeneous pathological mechanisms and therapeutic implications.Annals of medicine · 2026Review
- Both Genetic Manipulation and Acupuncture Alleviate Depressive-Like Behavior Mediated by Astrocytic P2X7 Receptors.MedComm · 2026Article
- Antidepressant Effects of 20-Glucoginsenoside Rf in an L-AAA-Induced Mouse Model with Glial-Associated Molecular Alterations.Current issues in molecular biology · 2026Article
- Article
- Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms Linking Mood Disorders, HPA Axis Dysregulation, and Neurocognitive Inflammation to Perioperative Neurocognitive Disorders.Biomolecules · 2026Review
- Ionic Homeostasis Failure in Major Depressive Disorder: Ion Channel Mechanisms, Excitation-Inhibition Imbalance, and Precision Therapeutics.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Review
- Multi-omics characterization of astrocyte subtypes reveals spatially coordinated astrocyte downregulation in depression.bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2026Article
- Life Cycle and Circadian Rhythms in Central Resident Immunity and Neuropsychiatric Pathology.Neuroscience bulletin · 2026Review
- Early-stage olfactory bulbectomy induces hyperlocomotion with increased astrocyte and microglial density in the prefrontal cortex of male rats.Brain structure & function · 2026Article
- Cumulative mild stress during early life alters prefrontal astrocytic proteins and elevates peripheral S100B in young adult mice.Translational psychiatry · 2026Article
- Effects of Single Bolus Exposure to Propofol on Depression-like Behavior in a Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress Model in Mice.Anesthesiology · 2026Article
- Neurodegenerative Disease: From Molecular Basis to Therapy, 3rd Edition.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Article
- Glial Cells in Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Review
- Human-Derived Cellular Models in Psychiatry: A Focus on the Olfactory Neuroepithelium.Brain sciences · 2026Review
- A multidimensional astrocytic framework links serum biomarkers to depression subtypes cognition and sleep EEG.Discover mental health · 2026Article
247 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
2 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
The present paper reviews astrocyte pathology in major depressive disorder (MDD) and proposes that reductions in astrocytes and related markers are key features in the pathology of MDD. Astrocytes are the most numerous and versatile of all types of glial cells. They are crucial to the neuronal microenvironment by regulating glucose metabolism, neurotransmitter uptake (particularly for glutamate), synaptic development and maturation and the blood brain barrier. Pathology of astrocytes has been consistently noted in MDD as well as in rodent models of depressive-like behavior. This review summarizes evidence from human postmortem tissue showing alterations in the expression of protein and mRNA for astrocyte markers such as glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), gap junction proteins (connexin 40 and 43), the water channel aquaporin-4 (AQP4), a calcium-binding protein S100B and glutamatergic markers including the excitatory amino acid transporters 1 and 2 (EAAT1, EAAT2) and glutamine synthetase. Moreover, preclinical studies are presented that demonstrate the involvement of GFAP and astrocytes in animal models of stress and depressive-like behavior and the influence of different classes of antidepressant medications on astrocytes. In light of the various astrocyte deficits noted in MDD, astrocytes may be novel targets for the action of antidepressant medications. Possible functional consequences of altered expression of astrocytic markers in MDD are also discussed. Finally, the unique pattern of cell pathology in MDD, characterized by prominent reductions in the density of astrocytes and in the expression of their markers without obvious neuronal loss, is contrasted with that found in other neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.