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REVIEW article
Front. Cell. Neurosci.
Sec. Cellular Neurophysiology
Volume 19 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fncel.2025.1572462
Decoding Serotonin: The Molecular Symphony Behind Depression
Provisionally accepted- 1 Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
- 2 Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou Province, China
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.
Keywords: Depression, Serotonin, Serotonin transporter, Tryptophan, Tryptophan hydroxylase, Vesicular Monoamine Transporter The association between the serotonin system and depression. AADC: Aromatic Amino Acid Decarboxylase, G: glycosyl, IDO: Indoleamine 2,3-Dioxygenase, KYN: Kynurenine, P: phosphate, Pal: palmitoyl Ub:Ubiquitin, SERT: Serotonin Transporter, SIP: SERT interactingprotein
Received: 14 Feb 2025; Accepted: 03 Apr 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Shu, Tian, Wang, Meng, Yu and Li. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Yulan Li, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
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