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BMC Psychiatry
Published in: BMC Psychiatry 1/2016

Open Access 01-12-2016 | Research article

Serotonin-1A receptor alterations in depression: a meta-analysis of molecular imaging studies

Authors: Ling Wang, Chanjuan Zhou, Dan Zhu, Xinfa Wang, Liang Fang, Jiaju Zhong, Qiang Mao, Lu Sun, Xue Gong, Jinjun Xia, Bing Lian, Peng Xie

Published in: BMC Psychiatry | Issue 1/2016

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Abstract

Background

Postmortem studies of people who have successfully committed suicide and people with depression have implicated the serotonin-1A (5-HT1A) receptor system in the pathophysiology of depression. Several molecular imaging studies have investigated alterations in 5-HT1A receptors in patients with depression using positron emission tomography and have reported conflicting results.

Methods

We performed a meta-analysis of studies investigating the relationship between depression and 5-HT1A binding. We conducted a comprehensive search of Medline, Embase, ScienceDirect, Scopus and Springer databases for relevant studies published between January 1999 and October 2015. The meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with the Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines.

Results

Ten studies were included, comprising 218 patients with depression and 261 healthy controls. The results of these studies indicated a reduction in 5-HT1A receptors in mesiotemporal cortex, yielding a summary effect estimate of -0.8 (95 % CI −1.36, −0.24). Smaller reductions were reported in 5-HT1A receptor binding in the hippocampus, raphe nuclei, insular, anterior cingulate cortex and occipital cortex of people with depression. No clear effect of depression on 5-HT1A receptors was detected in the amygdala.

Conclusions

Reduced 5-HT1A receptor binding was associated with the pathology of depression and predicted altered serotonergic neurotransmission in various brain regions. These findings increase our understanding of the neurophysiological processes underlying depression.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Serotonin-1A receptor alterations in depression: a meta-analysis of molecular imaging studies
Authors
Ling Wang
Chanjuan Zhou
Dan Zhu
Xinfa Wang
Liang Fang
Jiaju Zhong
Qiang Mao
Lu Sun
Xue Gong
Jinjun Xia
Bing Lian
Peng Xie
Publication date
01-12-2016
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Psychiatry / Issue 1/2016
Electronic ISSN: 1471-244X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-016-1025-0

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