Can neuron regeneration gene targets be the new antidepressants?

Jennifer Hu

Overview

Depression is a leading cause of death and disability with more than 264 million people of all ages suffering from the disorder worldwide. Understanding how brain function is altered in depressed patients is crucial for determining novel biological targets that can be used to prevent suicidal behavior. This project aims to identify potential biomarkers for major depressive disorder by finding co-expressed genes with brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and receptor tyrosine kinase B (trk-B), two genes that contribute to the pathophysiology of depression through neuron growth and survival (neuroplasticity). 3055 probes for genes involved in nervous system development were screened from public microarray data in the Allen Human Brain Atlas. Average gene expression level and Pearsons correlation coefficient were calculated for each probe using Java programming and Excel to determine correlations between either BDNF or trk-B and a potential gene biomarker. A total of 93 and 27 co-expressed genes were identified for trk-B and BDNF respectively with a significant Pearsons correlation of above +0.5 (trk-B: 0.82>x>0.50, BDNF: 0.68>x>0.50). In addition, 72 biomarkers were further identified by gene function and trends in data as especially important to depression research. These biomarkers may provide new insight into genetic factors for vulnerability to depression involving brain neuroplasticity and can be used to create new therapies as drug targets or to improve the remission rates of existing therapies.

My Story

Growing up, my close friend struggle with severe depression. After seeing her go through multiple rounds of treatment with no remission, I became extremely perplexed. If we’ve prescribed antidepressants for decades, how is it possible that patients still experience debilitating symptoms?

When given the opportunity to enter a research competition in my junior year, I took it upon myself to investigate new treatments for depression. With no lab or prior experience, I began my research, sifting through the only human brain databases available to a high schooler from my own computer.

Navigating an unfamiliar field was fraught with many obstacles, but I was not afraid to reach out to professionals who offered their expertise and often a new outlook on a problem. I was not afraid to reach out to professionals for their expertise and guidance. This is how I met my mentor, Dr. Susan M. Shortreed, who is working in clinical research in depression at Kaiser Permanente Research. I also kept in touch with professionals at the Allen Brain Institute to make sure I was using industry standard to analyze my data.

My goal had only been to answer one burning question, but I ended up falling in love with the research process: the way puzzle pieces clicked when I could see the connection between two articles, or the feeling when my Java program worked for the first time. I knew I wanted to pursue more neuroscience research.

I presented my project at the International Science and Engineering Fair—a life-changing experience, winning fourth in Behavioral and Social Sciences. I have also decided to pursue neuroscience in college and further my efforts in depression research, believing my contributions can make a dent in easing the suffering of millions.