Stress-induced depression as a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease: the role of glycogen synthase kinase-3

Abstract

Depression is one of the most common diseases in the world. Genetic factors, as well as violations of neuronal plasticity, regulation of neurotransmitter systems, neuroendocrine systems, etc. are involved in pathology of depression, but its mechanism is unknown still. One of the most important etiological factors of depression is stress. Stress and depression are often connected with development of cognitive disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Apparently, there are common pathogenetic stress-induced mechanisms, that determine progression depressive disorders and neurodegeneration, in particular AD. Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) is highly expressed in most neurons of brain and plays a key role in various receptor-linked signaling pathways and is involved in the reguiation of several major neuronal functions, including the regulation of neuronal plasticity. This report examines the potential impact of stress on the expression and regulatory phosporylation of GSK-3, and the correiation of these changes with those observed in depression and AD.