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<p>  According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depression is becoming the leading cause of disability worldwide, affecting more than 264 million people worldwide<sup>[<a href="#ref1">1</a>]</sup>. </p> | <p>  According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depression is becoming the leading cause of disability worldwide, affecting more than 264 million people worldwide<sup>[<a href="#ref1">1</a>]</sup>. </p> | ||
<p>  Exposure to prolonged chronic stress induces heightened vulnerability to anxiety, depression, and several mood disorders. Chronic stress-induced depression (CSID) is characterized by the dysfunction of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in the brain, linked to cognitive and emotional deficiencies induced by long-term stress exposure<sup>[<a href="#ref2">2</a>]</sup>.</p> | <p>  Exposure to prolonged chronic stress induces heightened vulnerability to anxiety, depression, and several mood disorders. Chronic stress-induced depression (CSID) is characterized by the dysfunction of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in the brain, linked to cognitive and emotional deficiencies induced by long-term stress exposure<sup>[<a href="#ref2">2</a>]</sup>.</p> | ||
− | <p>  Research has shown that chronic stress is closely related to the dysregulation of the gut-brain axis. In addition, gut-modifying substances, such as immune-inflammatory cytokines and | + | <p>  Research has shown that chronic stress is closely related to the dysregulation of the gut-brain axis. In addition, gut-modifying substances, such as immune-inflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species (ROS), cause detrimental effects on the gut<sup>[<a href="#ref3">3</a>]</sup>. The immune-inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways will be further discussed in the following sections.</p> |
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<p><b>  To sum up, depression is highly correlated with inflammatory response and oxidative stress. </b> However, current medication cannot effectively deal with CSID due to its difficult detection. Therefore, we try to utilize a novel synthetic biological approach to deal with this problem. After surfing previous research, <b>we found that ROS and IFN-γ are two potential biomarkers of CSID.</b> As for taurine, a kind of amino acid, it has both anti-inflammatory and ROS-scavenging effects. As a result, we use these agents to develop our project.</p> | <p><b>  To sum up, depression is highly correlated with inflammatory response and oxidative stress. </b> However, current medication cannot effectively deal with CSID due to its difficult detection. Therefore, we try to utilize a novel synthetic biological approach to deal with this problem. After surfing previous research, <b>we found that ROS and IFN-γ are two potential biomarkers of CSID.</b> As for taurine, a kind of amino acid, it has both anti-inflammatory and ROS-scavenging effects. As a result, we use these agents to develop our project.</p> | ||
<h3>Taurine</h3> | <h3>Taurine</h3> | ||
− | <p>  Taurine is a semi-essential amino acid appreciated for its role in neural development and neurogenesis as a neuroprotective agent. In CSID mice models, taurine dietary has increased the L-arginine concentrations in the hypothalamus with a significant decrease in the duration of immobility in motility tests. Those tests indicate that taurine | + | <p>  Taurine is a semi-essential amino acid appreciated for its role in neural development and neurogenesis as a neuroprotective agent. In CSID mice models, taurine dietary has increased the L-arginine concentrations in the hypothalamus with a significant decrease in the duration of immobility in motility tests. Those tests indicate that taurine inflicits anti-depressive effect.<sup>[<a href="#ref6">6</a>]</sup></p> |
<p>  Moreover, we found out that taurine and its metabolites played a significant role in chronic intestinal inflammation, which could inhibit deterioration of CSID by gut-brain axis. Further mechanisms will be discussed in the <a href="https://2021.igem.org/Team:NCKU_Tainan/Model"><b>Model</b></a>. | <p>  Moreover, we found out that taurine and its metabolites played a significant role in chronic intestinal inflammation, which could inhibit deterioration of CSID by gut-brain axis. Further mechanisms will be discussed in the <a href="https://2021.igem.org/Team:NCKU_Tainan/Model"><b>Model</b></a>. | ||
<p>  These results strongly suggest taurine’s capability in reducing stress-induced depressive symptoms.</p> | <p>  These results strongly suggest taurine’s capability in reducing stress-induced depressive symptoms.</p> |
Revision as of 09:31, 21 October 2021