Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42171632›Full record

ArticleThe international journal of neuropsychopharmacology2026

Inhibition of FKBP51 alleviates depressive-like behaviors via AKT/mTOR-dependent autophagy and synaptic plasticity.

Chen Li, Junjie Huang, Hailong Ge, Lujia Si, Lan Wu, Yinping Xie, Ling Xiao, Gaohua Wang

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in The international journal of neuropsychopharmacology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Chen LiDepartment of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, Hubei, People's Republic of China.ORCID 0009-0000-4174-5197
Junjie HuangDepartment of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, Hubei, People's Republic of China.
Hailong GeDepartment of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, Hubei, People's Republic of China.
Lujia SiDepartment of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, Hubei, People's Republic of China.
Lan WuDepartment of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, Hubei, People's Republic of China.
Yinping XieInstitute of Neuropsychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, Hubei, People's Republic of China.
Ling XiaoInstitute of Neuropsychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, Hubei, People's Republic of China.
Gaohua WangDepartment of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, Hubei, People's Republic of China.

Funding

Key Research and Development Program of Hubei Province 2020BCA064Medical Science Advancement Program of Wuhan University TFLC2018001National Natural Science Foundation of China 82071523
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDepression is a major global health problem, the pathogenesis of which remains to be elucidated, and current antidepressants exhibit limited efficacy. FK506-binding protein 51 (FKBP51) has been identified as a key modulator of stress-related psychiatric disorders, yet further research is required in depression.

methodsWe investigated the role of hippocampal FKBP51 using a chronic unpredictable mild stress rat model and stereotaxic FKBP5 overexpression. The antidepressant effect of the FKBP51 inhibitor, selective antagonist of FKBP51 by induced fit 2 (SAFit2), was evaluated in corticosterone-induced depression model both in vivo and in vitro. Molecular and structural changes were analyzed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, Golgi-Cox staining, transmission electron microscopy, and immunofluorescence. SH-SY5Y cells were utilized to examine autophagic flux and dissect downstream pathways.

resultsHippocampal FKBP51 was upregulated in chronic unpredictable mild stress-susceptible rats and correlated with depressive-like behaviors. Functionally, FKBP5 overexpression mimicked stress pathologies, inducing autophagic hyperactivation and suppressing AKT/mTOR signaling. Mechanistically, corticosterone enhanced the recruitment of the phosphatase PHLPP to FKBP51, thereby inhibiting the AKT/mTOR pathway. SAFit2 treatment disrupted the FKBP51-PHLPP interaction, reactivated the AKT/mTOR pathway, normalized autophagic flux, restored neuroplasticity, and attenuated depressive-like behaviors.

conclusionsStress-induced FKBP51 upregulation drives depressive-like behaviors in male rats by impairing neuroplasticity and inducing autophagic hyperactivation via the PHLPP-AKT-mTOR pathway. SAFit2 exhibited antidepressant-like effects by targeting this axis, highlighting FKBP51 as a potential target for depression.

Indexed as

Antidepressive AgentsAutophagyDepressionNeuronal PlasticityProto-Oncogene Proteins c-aktTacrolimus Binding ProteinsTOR Serine-Threonine KinasesAnimalsCell Line, TumorCorticosteroneDisease Models, AnimalHippocampusHumansMaleRatsRats, Sprague-DawleyAntidepressive AgentsCorticosteronemTOR protein, ratProto-Oncogene Proteins c-aktTacrolimus Binding Protein 5Tacrolimus Binding ProteinsTOR Serine-Threonine KinasesAKT/mTOR pathwayautophagydepressionFKBP51neuroplasticitySAFit2

Identifiers

PMID42171632
PMCPMC13220803

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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.