Exercise improves depressive-like behavior in adolescent mice by regulating sphingosine and ceramide metabolism through microglial CerS1

Abstract Given the unique onset period of adolescent depression, it is crucial to prioritize treatment modalities that are not only effective but also carry low side effects and promote overall health, with exercise emerging as a notable option. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-i...

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Main Authors: Naigang Li, Yuan Yao, Jingyi Du, Dong Wu, Xinghui Qiao, Fan Peng, Fei Meng, Yanan Zhang, Liyan Wang, Aijun Hao, Wenjuan Zhou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-06-01
Series:Communications Biology
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08347-7
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author Naigang Li
Yuan Yao
Jingyi Du
Dong Wu
Xinghui Qiao
Fan Peng
Fei Meng
Yanan Zhang
Liyan Wang
Aijun Hao
Wenjuan Zhou
author_facet Naigang Li
Yuan Yao
Jingyi Du
Dong Wu
Xinghui Qiao
Fan Peng
Fei Meng
Yanan Zhang
Liyan Wang
Aijun Hao
Wenjuan Zhou
author_sort Naigang Li
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Given the unique onset period of adolescent depression, it is crucial to prioritize treatment modalities that are not only effective but also carry low side effects and promote overall health, with exercise emerging as a notable option. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) stand out as two prominent forms of exercise, proven to be beneficial in addressing a multitude of disorders. Microglia mediated neuroinflammation is one of the main hypotheses leading to depression. Neuroinflammation leads to abnormal synaptic function, impaired neuroplasticity, and ultimately depressive symptoms. However, the exact mechanisms of exercise in microglia and adolescent depression remain unclear. In this study, we found that exercise can increase the expression of microglial ceramide synthase 1 (CerS1), promote the synthesis of C18 ceramide from sphingosine, and improve depressive-like behaviors in adolescent mice. Overexpression of CerS1 in the CA1 region using microglia specific adeno-associated virus (AAV) inhibits chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) induced neuroinflammation. Meanwhile, overexpression of CerS1 in primary microglia inhibits lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced neuroinflammation. These results provide new theoretical support for the treatment of adolescent depression with exercise from the perspective of animal models.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2399-3642
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
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spelling doaj-art-a1807ebf89b042f19ef11002127968742025-08-20T03:47:17ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Biology2399-36422025-06-018111210.1038/s42003-025-08347-7Exercise improves depressive-like behavior in adolescent mice by regulating sphingosine and ceramide metabolism through microglial CerS1Naigang Li0Yuan Yao1Jingyi Du2Dong Wu3Xinghui Qiao4Fan Peng5Fei Meng6Yanan Zhang7Liyan Wang8Aijun Hao9Wenjuan Zhou10Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education, Shandong Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University Affiliated Children’s Hospital, Shandong UniversityKey Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education, Shandong Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University Affiliated Children’s Hospital, Shandong UniversityKey Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education, Shandong Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University Affiliated Children’s Hospital, Shandong UniversityKey Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education, Shandong Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University Affiliated Children’s Hospital, Shandong UniversityKey Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education, Shandong Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University Affiliated Children’s Hospital, Shandong UniversityKey Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education, Shandong Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University Affiliated Children’s Hospital, Shandong UniversityKey Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education, Shandong Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University Affiliated Children’s Hospital, Shandong UniversityKey Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education, Shandong Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University Affiliated Children’s Hospital, Shandong UniversitySchool of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong UniversityKey Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education, Shandong Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University Affiliated Children’s Hospital, Shandong UniversityKey Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education, Shandong Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University Affiliated Children’s Hospital, Shandong UniversityAbstract Given the unique onset period of adolescent depression, it is crucial to prioritize treatment modalities that are not only effective but also carry low side effects and promote overall health, with exercise emerging as a notable option. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) stand out as two prominent forms of exercise, proven to be beneficial in addressing a multitude of disorders. Microglia mediated neuroinflammation is one of the main hypotheses leading to depression. Neuroinflammation leads to abnormal synaptic function, impaired neuroplasticity, and ultimately depressive symptoms. However, the exact mechanisms of exercise in microglia and adolescent depression remain unclear. In this study, we found that exercise can increase the expression of microglial ceramide synthase 1 (CerS1), promote the synthesis of C18 ceramide from sphingosine, and improve depressive-like behaviors in adolescent mice. Overexpression of CerS1 in the CA1 region using microglia specific adeno-associated virus (AAV) inhibits chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) induced neuroinflammation. Meanwhile, overexpression of CerS1 in primary microglia inhibits lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced neuroinflammation. These results provide new theoretical support for the treatment of adolescent depression with exercise from the perspective of animal models.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08347-7
spellingShingle Naigang Li
Yuan Yao
Jingyi Du
Dong Wu
Xinghui Qiao
Fan Peng
Fei Meng
Yanan Zhang
Liyan Wang
Aijun Hao
Wenjuan Zhou
Exercise improves depressive-like behavior in adolescent mice by regulating sphingosine and ceramide metabolism through microglial CerS1
Communications Biology
title Exercise improves depressive-like behavior in adolescent mice by regulating sphingosine and ceramide metabolism through microglial CerS1
title_full Exercise improves depressive-like behavior in adolescent mice by regulating sphingosine and ceramide metabolism through microglial CerS1
title_fullStr Exercise improves depressive-like behavior in adolescent mice by regulating sphingosine and ceramide metabolism through microglial CerS1
title_full_unstemmed Exercise improves depressive-like behavior in adolescent mice by regulating sphingosine and ceramide metabolism through microglial CerS1
title_short Exercise improves depressive-like behavior in adolescent mice by regulating sphingosine and ceramide metabolism through microglial CerS1
title_sort exercise improves depressive like behavior in adolescent mice by regulating sphingosine and ceramide metabolism through microglial cers1
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08347-7
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