Science (New York, N.Y.)
August 9, 2024
Min Chen, Shuangshuang Ma, Hanxiao Liu et al.
87 citations
Ketamine, a rapid antidepressant, works by blocking N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) specifically in the lateral habenula (LHb) of the brain, not in the hippocampus. In depressive-like mice, this regional selectivity depends on local neural activity and the availability of extrasynaptic NMDARs. Activating the hippocampus or inactivating the LHb reversed this sensitivity. Removing NMDARs from the LHb prevented ketamine's antidepressant effects and blocked the drug-induced rise in serotonin and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the hippocampus. Identifying this primary brain target should help design more precise antidepressant treatments.
European Journal of Pharmacology
November 15, 2024
Hui Li, Wen Hu, Zhen Wu et al.
11 citations
Esketamine improves cognitive impairments and alleviates neuronal damage in mice with sepsis-associated encephalopathy by inhibiting microglia-mediated neuroinflammation. The beneficial effects of Esketamine on microglia and cognitive behavior were counteracted by the BDNF receptor antagonist K252a in both in vivo and in vitro experiments. These results suggest that Esketamine inhibits microglia-mediated neuroinflammation by activating the BDNF pathway, thereby mitigating neuronal damage and cognitive dysfunction associated with sepsis-associated encephalopathy.
J Int Med Res
March 29, 2026
Hui Li, Jingjing Deng, Tao Liu et al.
Esketamine, a derivative of the anesthetic ketamine, is gaining popularity in China for surgical anesthesia, pain management, and treating mental illness due to its potent analgesic and anesthetic properties. This narrative review of literature up to June 2025 summarizes its pharmacological properties, clinical uses in surgical anesthesia, perioperative analgesia, painless procedures, intensive care, emergency care, and special populations like children and obstetric patients. It also covers organ-protective effects and adverse effects. The authors conclude that esketamine offers broader and safer applications than ketamine, particularly for psychiatric disorders.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
January 1, 2026
Hang Yu, Yuqiong Zhu, Jie Wang et al.
In a mouse model of depression induced by chronic social defeat stress, susceptible mice showed reduced social interaction, lower sucrose preference, decreased NRG1 protein expression in the prefrontal cortex, and increased immobility time compared to controls. A subanesthetic dose of esketamine increased NRG1 expression in the prefrontal cortex within 30 minutes and improved social interaction and reduced immobility at both 30 minutes and 24 hours post-injection. No significant changes were observed in GAD67 or ErbB4 expression. Esketamine may rapidly improve depressive-like behavior by regulating the NRG1-ErbB4 signaling pathway.
ACS Chemical Neuroscience
April 17, 2024
Hui Li, Qiong Ye, Da Wang et al.
Suppressing the cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) has been proposed as a treatment for conditions like obesity and Parkinson's disease, but a clinical trial produced unanticipated psychological side effects. Using in vivo imaging in mice, the authors show that complete genetic knockout of the CB1 gene (cnr1-/-) alters white matter structure and functional directional uniformity (in male mice) across the brain while largely preserving network activity. In contrast, the CB1 inverse agonist rimonabant alters network activity in cortical regions known to be affected by THC but does not affect directional uniformity. Chronic loss of cnr1 differs substantially from short-term pharmacological suppression, which may explain why pathological CB1 mutations do not predict side effects of CB1-suppressing drugs.
Frontiers in Psychology
February 17, 2021
Ping Liu, Xiaofeng Wang, Dan Li et al.
Adolescents in China who prioritized self-transcendence and openness to change values reported less depression and loneliness, while those who prioritized self-enhancement and conservation values reported more depression and loneliness. Four value clusters emerged: self-focus, other-focus, anxiety-free, and undifferentiated. Adolescents in the anxiety-free cluster had the lowest depression and loneliness, whereas those in the other-focus cluster had the highest. Regional differences appeared only for depression: adolescents in Shanghai reported higher depression than those in Qingdao.
Frontiers in Neurology
September 18, 2019
Yang Wang, Yun Qin, Hui Li et al.
Internet addiction is linked to altered communication patterns across the whole brain. Individuals with internet addiction showed increased functional connectivity density in regions involved in cognitive control and the default mode network, including the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, left parahippocampal gyrus, cerebellum, bilateral middle cingulate cortex, and superior temporal pole. Decreased connectivity density appeared in the right inferior parietal lobe and bilateral calcarine and lingual gyrus, areas tied to visual attention. Scores on the Internet Addiction Test correlated with connectivity changes in the left parahippocampal gyrus and bilateral superior temporal pole. These patterns resemble those seen in substance addiction and share neurobiological features with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder.