Certain brain cells are associated with depression

Two types of cells became the focus of attention. The first are excitatory neurons responsible for regulating mood and stress responses. The second is a special subtype of microglia involved in the control of inflammatory processes. In people with depression, multiple genes were found to be malfunctioning in both of these cellular systems.

The research was made possible by the unique Douglas-Bell brain tissue bank in Montreal. Samples of 59 people with a diagnosis of depression and 41 without it were analyzed using modern single—molecular genomics methods. This allowed us not only to see which genes are active in different cells, but also to understand which parts of DNA control their switching on or off.

“For the first time, we were able to show exactly which types of cells are affected by depression, and where exactly the failures occur,” says lead researcher Professor Gustavo Turekchi from McGill University. According to him, such data helps to destroy the myth that depression is just a “state of mind.” In fact, it is a disease associated with real and measurable changes in the brain.

The next scientific step is to find out exactly how these cellular changes affect the functioning of the brain as a whole. If we can find ways to correct them, there will be a chance to create new, more accurate and effective medications for depression.