中医药调控谷氨酸治疗抑郁症的研究进展

Research progress on the regulation of glutamate in traditional Chinese medicine for treatment of depression

谷氨酸是中枢神经系统中主要的兴奋性神经递质,也是潜在的神经毒素。在抑郁症发生发展过程中存在海马区谷氨酸浓度升高的现象,谷氨酸发生堆积时,将对神经元和脑组织造成严重损伤,加重抑郁状态。因此谷氨酸堆积可能是造成抑郁症的重要机制。星形胶质细胞、谷氨酸转运体及谷氨酸受体对谷氨酸的浓度起着重要的调控作用。本文综述了中医药疗法通过调控星形胶质细胞、谷氨酸转运体、谷氨酸受体影响谷氨酸,进而治疗抑郁症的作用机制,为探究中医药治疗抑郁症提供新的思路。

Glutamate is a major excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system and a potential neurotoxin.During the development of depression,the glutamate concentration increases in the hippocampus.When glutamate accumulates,it causes serious damage to neurons and brain tissue,aggravating the depressive state.Therefore,glutamate accumulation may be a major mechanism of depression development.Astrocytes,glutamate transporters,and glutamate receptors play important regulatory roles in the glutamate concentration.This article reviews the mechanism-of-action of traditional Chinese medicine on depression by regulating astrocytes,glutamate transporters,and glutamate receptors,and provides new ideas to explore treatment of depression by traditional Chinese medicine.