Decoding serotonin: the molecular symphony behind depression

The serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) system represents a crucial neurotransmitter network that regulates mood, behavior, and cognitive functions, playing a significant role in the pathogenesis and progression of depression. Although this perspective faces significant challenges, the serotonin system...

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Main Authors: Yue Shu, Lei Tian, Xing Wang, Tinyang Meng, Shouyang Yu, Yulan Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fncel.2025.1572462/full
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author Yue Shu
Lei Tian
Xing Wang
Tinyang Meng
Shouyang Yu
Yulan Li
author_facet Yue Shu
Lei Tian
Xing Wang
Tinyang Meng
Shouyang Yu
Yulan Li
author_sort Yue Shu
collection DOAJ
description The serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) system represents a crucial neurotransmitter network that regulates mood, behavior, and cognitive functions, playing a significant role in the pathogenesis and progression of depression. Although this perspective faces significant challenges, the serotonin system continues to exert substantial modulatory effects on specific aspects of psychological functioning and actively contributes to multiple pathological processes in depression development. Therefore, this review systematically integrates interdisciplinary research advances regarding the relationship between the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) system and depression. By focusing on core biological processes including serotonin biosynthesis and metabolism, SERT gene regulatory networks, and protein molecular modifications, it aims to elucidate how 5-HT system dysregulation contributes to the development of depression, while providing novel research perspectives and therapeutic targets for innovative antidepressant drug development.
format Article
id doaj-art-899f72ef0909420ca68c12edd9cc5582
institution OA Journals
issn 1662-5102
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience
spelling doaj-art-899f72ef0909420ca68c12edd9cc55822025-08-20T02:24:37ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience1662-51022025-04-011910.3389/fncel.2025.15724621572462Decoding serotonin: the molecular symphony behind depressionYue Shu0Lei Tian1Xing Wang2Tinyang Meng3Shouyang Yu4Yulan Li5The First School of Clinical Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, ChinaThe First School of Clinical Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, ChinaThe First School of Clinical Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, ChinaThe First School of Clinical Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, ChinaKey Laboratory of Brain Science, Key Laboratory of Anesthesia and Organ Protection of Ministry of Education (In Cultivation), Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, ChinaThe First School of Clinical Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, ChinaThe serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) system represents a crucial neurotransmitter network that regulates mood, behavior, and cognitive functions, playing a significant role in the pathogenesis and progression of depression. Although this perspective faces significant challenges, the serotonin system continues to exert substantial modulatory effects on specific aspects of psychological functioning and actively contributes to multiple pathological processes in depression development. Therefore, this review systematically integrates interdisciplinary research advances regarding the relationship between the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) system and depression. By focusing on core biological processes including serotonin biosynthesis and metabolism, SERT gene regulatory networks, and protein molecular modifications, it aims to elucidate how 5-HT system dysregulation contributes to the development of depression, while providing novel research perspectives and therapeutic targets for innovative antidepressant drug development.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fncel.2025.1572462/fulldepressionserotoninserotonin transportertryptophantryptophan hydroxylasevesicular monoamine transporter
spellingShingle Yue Shu
Lei Tian
Xing Wang
Tinyang Meng
Shouyang Yu
Yulan Li
Decoding serotonin: the molecular symphony behind depression
Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience
depression
serotonin
serotonin transporter
tryptophan
tryptophan hydroxylase
vesicular monoamine transporter
title Decoding serotonin: the molecular symphony behind depression
title_full Decoding serotonin: the molecular symphony behind depression
title_fullStr Decoding serotonin: the molecular symphony behind depression
title_full_unstemmed Decoding serotonin: the molecular symphony behind depression
title_short Decoding serotonin: the molecular symphony behind depression
title_sort decoding serotonin the molecular symphony behind depression
topic depression
serotonin
serotonin transporter
tryptophan
tryptophan hydroxylase
vesicular monoamine transporter
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fncel.2025.1572462/full
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AT leitian decodingserotoninthemolecularsymphonybehinddepression
AT xingwang decodingserotoninthemolecularsymphonybehinddepression
AT tinyangmeng decodingserotoninthemolecularsymphonybehinddepression
AT shouyangyu decodingserotoninthemolecularsymphonybehinddepression
AT yulanli decodingserotoninthemolecularsymphonybehinddepression