Cientistas from McGill University identified two specific types of brain cells that show changes in people with depression. The research used post-mortem brain tissue samples and single-cell genomics techniques. The work opens up perspectives for more targeted treatments for the disorder.
The team analyzed the RNA and DNA of thousands of individual cells. The study included material from 59 individuals diagnosed with depression and 41 without the condition. The differences appeared in excitatory neurons linked to mood and the stress response. Outro affected group was a subtype of microglia, brain immune cells that control inflammation.
Descoberta uses rare bank of donated brains
The material came from Banco of Cérebros Douglas-Bell, on Canadá. Essa collection brings together samples of people with psychiatric disorders and serves as a resource for biological studies of mental health. The researchers applied advanced single-nucleus chromatin accessibility profiling methods. Essa approach allowed us to map not only genetic activity, but also the mechanisms that regulate the DNA code.
- Excitatory Neurônios showed changes in the regulation of genes linked to mood.
- Microglia showed variation in activity related to brain inflammation.
- Análise covered more than 200,000 cells in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.
- Estudo compared patterns between groups with and without depression.
- Resultados reinforce the measurable biological basis of the disorder.
The single-cell technique avoided mixing signals from different cell types. With this, scientists were able to accurately identify which populations functioned differently.
Neurônios and microglia concentrate genetic changes
A group of excitatory neurons regulates emotional and stress responses. Nessas cells, several genes had different levels of activity in people with depression. The same occurred in a specific subtype of microglia. Essas immune cells act to modulate inflammation in the brain. The observed dysfunctions may explain part of the mechanisms that sustain the disorder.
The researchers highlighted that depression affects more than 264 million people worldwide. Ela is among the main causes of disability. Até now lacked clear cellular targets for precise interventions. The new identification fills this gap.
Estudo reinforces biological view of depression
Senior author Gustavo Turecki, a McGill professor and Instituto Douglas researcher, commented on the findings. Ele leads Cátedra from Pesquisa from Canadá into Transtorno Depressivo Maior and Suicídio. Segundo he, research shows real, measurable changes in the brain. Isso contrasts with views that treat the problem as just an emotional one.
The article was published in the magazine Nature Genetics. The full title is “Single-nucleus chromatin accessibility profiling identifies cell types and functional variants contributing to major depression”. The team included Anjali Chawla as first author, in addition to Corina Nagy and Yue Li as primary contributors.
Próximos steps target targeted treatments
Scientists plan to investigate how these cellular changes affect overall brain function. Outro’s focus will be on testing whether specific therapies for these cell types can bring better results. Funding came from Canadian bodies such as Institutos, Pesquisa, Saúde and Brain Canada.
Depression continues to require approaches that go beyond symptoms. Essa discovery represents a concrete advance in understanding the underlying biological processes.
