Novel therapeutic targets in depression: Minocycline as a candidate treatment

Mood disorders are marked by high rates of non-recovery, recurrence, and chronicity, which are insufficiently addressed by current therapies. Several patho-etiological models have been proposed that are not mutually exclusive and include but are not limited to the monoamine, inflammatory, neurotrophic, gliotrophic, excitatory, and oxidative stress systems. A derivative of these observations is that treatment(s) which target one or more of these mechanistic steps may be capable of mitigating, or preventing, disparate psychopathological features. Minocycline is an agent with pleiotropic properties that targets multiple proteins and cellular processes implicated in the patho-etiology of mood disorders. Moreover, preclinical and preliminary clinical evidence suggests that minocycline possesses antidepressant properties. Herein, we provide the rationale for conducting a randomized, controlled trial to test the antidepressant properties of minocycline. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Eli LillyJanssen-OrthoAstra ZenecaBristol-Meyers SquibbClera, Inc.Glaxo Smith KlineLundbeckPfizerServierSt. Jude MedicalConselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Toronto Rehabilitation InstituteHeart and Stroke Foundation Centre for Stroke RecoveryStanley Medical Research InstituteNational Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression (NARSAD)National Institutes of Mental HealthShireAstra-ZenecaForestSepracorUniv Toronto, Mood Disorders Psychopharmacol Unit, Univ Hlth Network, Dept Psychiat, Toronto, ON M5T 2S8, CanadaUniv Toronto, Inst Med Sci, Toronto, ON M5T 2S8, CanadaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Psychiat, Program Recognit & Intervent Individuals Risk Men, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Psychiat, Interdisciplinary Lab Clin Neurosci LINC, São Paulo, BrazilUniv Toronto, Dept Pharmacol, Toronto, ON M5T 2S8, CanadaUniv Toronto, Dept Toxicol, Toronto, ON M5T 2S8, CanadaSunnybrook Hlth Sci Ctr, Neuropsychopharrnacol Res Grp, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5, CanadaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Psychiat, Program Recognit & Intervent Individuals Risk Men, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Psychiat, Interdisciplinary Lab Clin Neurosci LINC, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc