Oxidative stress markers in affective disorders

Oxidative stress markers in affective disorders

Pharmacological Reports
Copyright © 2013
2013, 65, 1558–1571
by Institute of Pharmacology
ISSN 1734-1140
Polish Academy of Sciences
Review
Oxidative stress markers in affective disorders
Marcin Siwek1,2,#, Magdalena Sowa-Kuæma2,3,#, Dominika Dudek1,2,
Krzysztof Styczeñ2,4, Bernadeta Szewczyk2, Katarzyna Kotarska2,
Paulina Misztak2, Agnieszka Pilc2, Ma³gorzata Wolak2,5, Gabriel Nowak2,5
1
Department of Psychiatry, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Faculty of Medicine, Kopernika 21a,
PL 31-501 Kraków, Poland
2
Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences and Center of Excellence in Neuropsychophar macology,
Smêtna 12, PL 31-343 Kraków, Poland
3
Centre of Applied Biotechnology and Basic Sciences, University of Rzeszow, Rejtana 16C, PL 35-959 Rzeszów,
Poland
4
Department of Adult Psychiatry, University Hospital, Kopernika 21a, PL 31-501 Kraków, Poland
5
Department of Pharmacobiology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medyczna 9,
PL 30-688 Kraków, Poland
Correspondence: Marcin Siwek, e-mail: [email protected]; Magdalena Sowa-Kuæma,
e-mail: [email protected]
Abstract:
Affective disorders are a medical condition with a complex biological pattern of etiology, involving genetic and epigenetic factors,
along with different environmental stressors. Increasing numbers of studies indicate that induction of oxidative and nitrosative stress
(O&NS) pathways, which is accompanied by immune-inflammatory response, might play an important role in the pathogenic
mechanisms underlying many major psychiatric disorders, including depression and bipolar disorder.
Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species have been shown to impair the brain function by modulating activity of principal neurotransmitter (e.g., glutamatergic) systems involved in the neurobiology of depression. Both preclinical and clinical studies revealed that
depression is associated with altered levels of oxidative stress markers and typically reduced concentrations of several endogenous
antioxidant compounds, such as glutathione, vitamin E, zinc and coenzyme Q10, or enzymes, including glutathione peroxidase, and
with an impairment of the total antioxidant status. These oxidative stress parameters can be normalized by successful antidepressant
therapy. On the other hand, some antioxidants (zinc, N-acetylcysteine, omega-3 free fatty acids) may exhibit antidepressant properties or enhance standard antidepressant therapy. These observations introduce new potential targets for the development of therapeutic interventions based on antioxidant compounds. The present paper reviews selected animal and human studies providing evidence
that oxidative stress is implicated in the pathophysiology and treatment of depression and bipolar disorder.
Key words:
oxidative stress, marker, depression, affective disorders, bipolar disorder
#
contributed equally to this article
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Pharmacological Reports, 2013, 65, 1558–1571