Project Summary

Vera Chesnokova, Ph.D. (Young Investigator 2003) of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, will study cytokines, which are products of the immune system which have prominent effects on the brain and behavior.  Dysregulation of the brain cytokine systems might contribute to the neurobiology of some types of depression and antidepressant medication may exert their effects via changes in cytokine activity.  Dr. Chesnekova plans to study the cytokine known as leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) which is a powerful stimulator of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA), a major system involved in stress response.  In mice treated with antidepressants, she will investigate the neurotransmitter systems involved, examine the central expression of LIF, and measure HPA activity and behavior.  This will provide new information on the role of LIF in depressive behaviors, antidepressant activity and HPA axis dysregulation.

Program Area: MOOD DISORDERS\Depression (Unipolar)\Pharmacology

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