Is the JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway Involved in the Pathogenesis of Depression?

The Effect of JAK Inhibitors on Patient-Reported Outcomes in Psoriatic Arthritis

Objective

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the joints and skin of patients with psoriasis. In this review we aimed to summarise the available evidence regarding the effect of Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi) on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) when used for the management of PsA.

Methods

We utilised a narrative review approach as we searched the available literature for articles to be included in our study.

Results

JAKi have been found to be effective in inducing better PRO responses compared to placebo. These findings have been consistent across various patient populations, including those with active PsA, those with an inadequate response to conventional therapies, and those with comorbidities. The evidence supporting the benefits of JAKi on PROs in PsA is compelling, demonstrating consistent improvements in pain, physical function, fatigue, and quality of life.

Conclusion

Numerous studies have demonstrated the the efficacy of JAKi in improving PROs in patients with PsA.

Microbiota Alters and Its Correlation with Molecular Regulation Underlying Depression in PCOS Patients

Depression is one of the complications in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) that leads to considerable mental health. Accumulating evidence suggests that human gut microbiomes are associated with the progression of PCOS and depression. However, whether microbiota influences depression development in PCOS patients is still uncharacterized. In this study, we employed metagenomic sequencing and transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) to profile the composition of the fecal microbiota and gene expression of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in depressed women with PCOS (PCOS-DP, n = 27) in comparison to mentally healthy women with PCOS (PCOS, n = 18) and compared with healthy control (HC, n = 27) and patients with major depressive disorder (MDD, n = 29). Gut microbiota assessment revealed distinct patterns in the relative abundance in the PCOS-DP compared to HC, MDD, and PCOS groups. Several gut microbes exhibited uniquely and significantly higher abundance in the PCOS-DP compared to PCOS patients, inducing EC Ruminococcus torques, Coprococcus comes, Megasphaera elsdenii, Acidaminococcus intestini, and Barnesiella viscericola. Bacteroides eggerthii was a potential gut microbial biomarker for the PCOS-DP. RNA-seq profiling identified that 35 and 37 genes were significantly elevated and downregulated in the PCOS-DP, respectively. The enhanced differential expressed genes (DEGs) in the PCOS-DP were enriched in pathways involved in signal transduction and endocrine and metabolic diseases, whereas several lipid metabolism pathways were downregulated. Intriguingly, genes correlated with the gut microbiota were found to be significantly enriched in pathways of neurodegenerative diseases and the immune system, suggesting that changes in the microbiota may have a systemic impact on the expression of neurodegenerative diseases and immune genes. Gut microbe-related DEGs of CREB3L3 and CCDC173 were possible molecular biomarkers and therapeutic targets of women with PCOS-DP. Our multi-omics data indicate shifts in the gut microbiome and host gene regulation in PCOS patients with depression, which is of possible etiological and diagnostic importance.

JAK-STAT signaling in inflammation and stress-related diseases: implications for therapeutic interventions

The Janus kinase-signal transducer and transcription activator pathway (JAK-STAT) serves as a cornerstone in cellular signaling, regulating physiological and pathological processes such as inflammation and stress. Dysregulation in this pathway can lead to severe immunodeficiencies and malignancies, and its role extends to neurotransduction and pro-inflammatory signaling mechanisms. Although JAK inhibitors (Jakinibs) have successfully treated immunological and inflammatory disorders, their application has generally been limited to diseases with similar pathogenic features. Despite the modest expression of JAK-STAT in the CNS, it is crucial for functions in the cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum, making it relevant in conditions like Parkinson's disease and other neuroinflammatory disorders. Furthermore, the influence of the pathway on serotonin receptors and phospholipase C has implications for stress and mood disorders. This review expands the understanding of JAK-STAT, moving beyond traditional immunological contexts to explore its role in stress-related disorders and CNS function. Recent findings, such as the effectiveness of Jakinibs in chronic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, expand their therapeutic applicability. Advances in isoform-specific inhibitors, including filgotinib and upadacitinib, promise greater specificity with fewer off-target effects. Combination therapies, involving Jakinibs and monoclonal antibodies, aiming to enhance therapeutic specificity and efficacy also give great hope. Overall, this review bridges the gap between basic science and clinical application, elucidating the complex influence of the JAK-STAT pathway on human health and guiding future interventions.

Interactome analysis implicates class II transactivator (CIITA) in depression and other neuroinflammatory disorders

PURPOSE

Inappropriate inflammatory responses within the nervous system (neuroinflammation) have been implicated in several neurological conditions. Class II transactivator (CIITA), a principal regulator of the major histocompatibility complex II (MHCII), is known to play essential roles in inflammation. Hence, CIITA and its interactors could be potentially involved in multiple neurological disorders. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying CIITA-mediated neuroinflammation (NI) are yet to be understood.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this regard, we analyzed the potential involvement of CIITA and its interactome in the regulation of neuroinflammation. In the present study, using various computational tools, we aimed (1) to identify NI-related proteins, (2) to filter the critical interactors in the CIITA-NI network, and (3) to analyze the protein-disease interactions and the associated molecular pathways through which CIITA could influence neuroinflammation.

RESULTS

CIITA was found to interact with P T GS2, GSK3B, and NR3C1 and may influence depressive disorders. Further, the IL4/IL13 pathway was found to be potentially underlying the CIITA-interactomemediated effects on neurological disorders. Moreover, CIITA was found to be connected to genes associated with depressive disorder through IL4, wherein CIITA was found to be potentially involved in depressive disorders through IL-4/IL-13 and hippo pathways. However, the present study is based on the existing data on protein interactomes and could be re-evaluated as newer interactions are discovered. Also, the functional mechanisms of CIITA's roles in neuroinflammation must be evaluated further.

CONCLUSION

Notwithstanding these limitations, the results presented here, could form a basis for further experimental studies to assess CIITA as a potential therapeutic target in managing depression and other neuroinflammatory disorders.

CASP3 gene expression and the role of caspase 3 in the pathogenesis of depressive disorders

BACKGROUND

The aim of our study was to evaluate the expression of the CASP3 gene at both mRNA and protein levels in patients with depressive disorders and to determine the impact of caspase 3 in the pathogenesis of depression; METHODS: A total of 290 subjects, including 190 depressed patients and 100 healthy controls, participated in the study. Socio-demographic and clinical data were collected, and the severity of depressive symptoms was assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Venous blood was collected and gene expression was evaluated using RT-PCR and ELISA at the mRNA and protein levels, respectively; RESULTS: The expression of the CASP3 gene was significantly lower in depressed patients compared to healthy controls at both the mRNA and protein levels. Additionally, a positive correlation was observed between CASP3 gene expression and disease duration as well as the number of depressive episodes; CONCLUSIONS: Further studies are needed to investigate the role of caspase 3 in depressive disorders.

Luteolin and triptolide: Potential therapeutic compounds for post-stroke depression via protein STAT

Post stroke depression (PSD) is a common neuropsychiatric complication following stroke closely associated with the immune system. The development of medications for PSD remains to be a considerable challenge due to the unclear mechanism of PSD. Multiple researches agree that the functions of gene ontology (GO) are efficient for the investigation of disease mechanisms, and DeepPurpose (DP) is extremely valuable for the mining of new drugs. However, GO terms and DP have not yet been applied to explore the pathogenesis and drug treatment of PSD. This study aimed to interpret the mechanism of PSD and discover important drug candidates targeting risk proteins, based on immune-related risk GO functions and informatics algorithms. According to the risk genes of PSD, we identified 335 immune-related risk GO functions and 37 compounds. Based on the construction of the GO function network, we found that STAT protein may be a pivot protein in underlying the mechanism of PSD. Additionally, we also established networks of Protein-Protein Interaction as well as Gene-GO function to facilitate the evaluation of key genes. Based on DP, a total of 37 candidate compounds targeting 7 key proteins were identified with a potential for the therapy of PSD. Furthermore, we noted that the mechanisms by which luteolin and triptolide acting on STAT-related GO function might involve three crucial pathways, including specifically hsa04010 (MAPK signaling pathway), hsa04151 (PI3K-Akt signaling pathway) and hsa04060 (Cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction). Thus, this study provided fresh and powerful information for the mechanism and therapeutic strategies of PSD.