Ketamine a dissociative anesthetic: Neurobiology and biomolecular exploration in depression.
Guo-Liang Liu, Yun-Feng Cui, Chang Lu, Peng Zhao
Chemico-Biological Interactions February 19, 2020 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2020.109006 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | Ketamine |
| Topics | Depression Ketamine Esketamine |
| Keywords | Animals Humans Anesthetics, dissociative Signal transduction Gene expression Brain-derived neurotrophic factor Mitogen-activated protein kinase N-methyl d-aspartate receptor Endocannabinoid system Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol Histone deacetylase 5 |
| Key findings | The authors propose that ketamine's antidepressant and psychotomimetic effects may involve NMDA receptor blockade and downstream gene expression and signaling cascades that outlast the drug's presence in the body. They contend that mechanistic actions at cellular and network levels remain incompletely understood and require further study before long-term use for depression can be approved. |
Abstract
Ketamine is gaining ground as a potential treating depression because it has a distinct mode of action than typical drugs that influence monoamine neurotransmitters including noradrenaline, dopamine, or serotonin. Ketamine is thought to act by blocking N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in the brain, which interact with the amino acid neurotransmitter glutamate. The resultant chemical changes in the brain caused by ketamine are not yet fully understood but could involve ketamine-induced gene expression and signaling cascades that act long after the drug has been eliminated from the body. Despite these remarkable effects, the widespread use of ketamine is limited by potential side effects including the emergence reactions (hallucinations, dreams, and out-of-body experiences) by recreational users, who need further study before long-term use of ketamine can be approved for depression. Thus, studies are necessary to further elucidate mechanistic actions of ketamine at cellular and network levels. Thus, we are exploring the involvement of molecular targets for the treatment and psychomimetic phenomena of the ketamine.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on ketamine for depression, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Synthesizing the Evidence for Ketamine and Esketamine in Treatment-Resistant Depression: An International Expert Opinion on the Available Evidence and Implementation Adults with treatment-resistant depression | 2021 | Review | |
| Ketamine: a paradigm shift for depression research and treatment | 2019 | Review | |
| Rapid‐acting antidepressant ketamine, its metabolites and other candidates: A historical overview and future perspective | 2019 | Review | |
| Ketamine: A tale of two enantiomers | 2020 | Review | |
| Molecular mechanisms underlying the antidepressant actions of arketamine: beyond the NMDA receptor | 2021 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 1
Cites 11
- Role of BDNF in the pathophysiology and treatment of depression: Activity‐dependent effects distinguish rapid‐acting antidepressants European Journal of Neuroscience December 6, 2019
- Glutamatergic Modulators: The Future of Treating Mood Disorders? Harvard Review of Psychiatry August 1, 2010
- Efficacy and safety of adjunctive therapy using esketamine or racemic ketamine for adult treatment-resistant depression: A randomized, double-blind, non-inferiority study. Journal of Affective Disorders November 14, 2019
- Neurotrophic mechanisms underlying the rapid and sustained antidepressant actions of ketamine. Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior December 9, 2019
- Opioid system is necessary but not sufficient for antidepressive actions of ketamine in rodents Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences January 15, 2020
and 6 more in the library