Bipolar Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Bipolar, including details on bipolar disorder, symptoms, treatment, depression, medication.

Gene interactions in depression: pathways out of darkness.

Harvey M, Belleau P, Barden N

Department of Neuroscience, CHUL Research Centre and Laval University, Quebec, QC, Canada.

Mood disorders, including major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder, are influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Hypotheses about the neurobiology of mood disorders have been postulated and putatively associated genes identified. Recently, the immune-related gene encoding purinergic receptor P2X, ligand-gated ion channel, 7 (P2RX7) has been genetically associated with major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder. New candidate genes and emerging gene networks and pathways involved in the aetiology of mood disorders point to a major role for neuronal survival and the adaptive immune systems.

Published 12 November 2007 in Trends Genet, 23(11): 547-56.
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