Current Insight into Biological Markers of Depressive Disorder in Children and Adolescents: A Narrative Review
Depressive disorder (DD) in children and adolescents is a growing public health concern with a complex and multifactorial etiology. While most biomarker research has focused on adults, increasing attention is being paid to age-specific molecular mechanisms. This narrative review provides a comprehen...
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Antioxidants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/14/6/699 |
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| author | Jana Trebatická Martin Vatrál Barbora Katrenčíková Jana Muchová Zdeňka Ďuračková |
| author_facet | Jana Trebatická Martin Vatrál Barbora Katrenčíková Jana Muchová Zdeňka Ďuračková |
| author_sort | Jana Trebatická |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Depressive disorder (DD) in children and adolescents is a growing public health concern with a complex and multifactorial etiology. While most biomarker research has focused on adults, increasing attention is being paid to age-specific molecular mechanisms. This narrative review provides a comprehensive overview of current knowledge on potential biomarkers of DD, including genetic, neurotransmitter, hormonal, inflammatory, lipid, and oxidative stress markers, in youth compared to adult populations. Special emphasis is given to findings from the DEPOXIN project (Molecular basis of depressive disorder in children and adolescents, the influence of omega-3 fatty acids and oxidative stress), a multicenter study investigating biological markers in children and adolescents with DD. The project identified significantly increased oxidative stress markers (8-isoprostanes, advanced oxidation protein products, nitrotyrosine) and decreased antioxidant enzyme activity (glutathione peroxidase). Moreover, HDL (high density lipoproteins) cholesterol and its subfractions were negatively correlated with depression severity. At the same time, thromboxane B2, omega-6/omega-3 fatty acid ratios, and salivary cortisol levels showed strong positive correlations with depressive symptoms and biochemical markers of inflammation. These results suggest a distinct molecular profile of depression in paediatric populations, emphasizing the importance of developmental context in biomarker research. The review aims to synthesize existing evidence, compare findings across age groups, and highlight the need for personalized, age-appropriate strategies in the diagnosis and treatment of depressive disorders. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-de7fc25bc204459d85437b45546f8a2c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-3921 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Antioxidants |
| spelling | doaj-art-de7fc25bc204459d85437b45546f8a2c2025-08-20T03:32:26ZengMDPI AGAntioxidants2076-39212025-06-0114669910.3390/antiox14060699Current Insight into Biological Markers of Depressive Disorder in Children and Adolescents: A Narrative ReviewJana Trebatická0Martin Vatrál1Barbora Katrenčíková2Jana Muchová3Zdeňka Ďuračková4Department of Paediatric Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, The National Institute of Children’s Diseases, Comenius University, Limbová 1, 833 40 Bratislava, SlovakiaDepartment of Paediatric Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, The National Institute of Children’s Diseases, Comenius University, Limbová 1, 833 40 Bratislava, SlovakiaFaculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical Chemistry, Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Comenius University, Sasinkova 2, 813 72 Bratislava, SlovakiaFaculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical Chemistry, Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Comenius University, Sasinkova 2, 813 72 Bratislava, SlovakiaFaculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical Chemistry, Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Comenius University, Sasinkova 2, 813 72 Bratislava, SlovakiaDepressive disorder (DD) in children and adolescents is a growing public health concern with a complex and multifactorial etiology. While most biomarker research has focused on adults, increasing attention is being paid to age-specific molecular mechanisms. This narrative review provides a comprehensive overview of current knowledge on potential biomarkers of DD, including genetic, neurotransmitter, hormonal, inflammatory, lipid, and oxidative stress markers, in youth compared to adult populations. Special emphasis is given to findings from the DEPOXIN project (Molecular basis of depressive disorder in children and adolescents, the influence of omega-3 fatty acids and oxidative stress), a multicenter study investigating biological markers in children and adolescents with DD. The project identified significantly increased oxidative stress markers (8-isoprostanes, advanced oxidation protein products, nitrotyrosine) and decreased antioxidant enzyme activity (glutathione peroxidase). Moreover, HDL (high density lipoproteins) cholesterol and its subfractions were negatively correlated with depression severity. At the same time, thromboxane B2, omega-6/omega-3 fatty acid ratios, and salivary cortisol levels showed strong positive correlations with depressive symptoms and biochemical markers of inflammation. These results suggest a distinct molecular profile of depression in paediatric populations, emphasizing the importance of developmental context in biomarker research. The review aims to synthesize existing evidence, compare findings across age groups, and highlight the need for personalized, age-appropriate strategies in the diagnosis and treatment of depressive disorders.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/14/6/699depressive disorderneurotransmitterinflammationneuroendocrine systemoxidative stresslipid profile |
| spellingShingle | Jana Trebatická Martin Vatrál Barbora Katrenčíková Jana Muchová Zdeňka Ďuračková Current Insight into Biological Markers of Depressive Disorder in Children and Adolescents: A Narrative Review Antioxidants depressive disorder neurotransmitter inflammation neuroendocrine system oxidative stress lipid profile |
| title | Current Insight into Biological Markers of Depressive Disorder in Children and Adolescents: A Narrative Review |
| title_full | Current Insight into Biological Markers of Depressive Disorder in Children and Adolescents: A Narrative Review |
| title_fullStr | Current Insight into Biological Markers of Depressive Disorder in Children and Adolescents: A Narrative Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Current Insight into Biological Markers of Depressive Disorder in Children and Adolescents: A Narrative Review |
| title_short | Current Insight into Biological Markers of Depressive Disorder in Children and Adolescents: A Narrative Review |
| title_sort | current insight into biological markers of depressive disorder in children and adolescents a narrative review |
| topic | depressive disorder neurotransmitter inflammation neuroendocrine system oxidative stress lipid profile |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/14/6/699 |
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