BACKGROUND: Glial cells are essential in maintaining synaptic function. In glutamatergic synapses astrocytes remove the products of neural activity, (i.e. @entity972 , @entity3264 and excess water) from the synaptic cleft and redistribute them across the glial network; these products of neural activity can then be recycled for neuronal use or released into the vascular compartment. This type of highly coupled cell network -or syncytium-maintains the balance of synaptic activity by restoring the basal levels of such molecules in the synaptic cleft. Previous studies have reported alterations of glia related genes in Major @entity308 , including some genes related to syncytial function. METHODS: We used RNA isolated from hippocampal tissues of 13 @entity4696 subjects and 10 healthy controls to broadly examine gene expression using microarrays. Hippocampal RNA samples were isolated by laser capture microdissection from @entity1 tissue sections carefully avoiding contamination from neighboring structures. Once RNA quality was validated RNA was labeled and hybridized to microarrays. RESULTS: Analysis of microarray data identified mRNA transcripts involved in glial syncytial function that were downregulated in @entity4696 subjects compared to controls, including @entity972 and water channels ( @entity35112 , @entity3951 ), gap junction proteins ( @entity495 ) and @entity3264 transporters ( @entity9320 , @entity6485 ). These gene expression differences were confirmed by qPCR. CONCLUSIONS: The downregulation of these genes related to the syncytial network activity of glial cells is consistent with the hypothesis that synaptic homeostasis is disrupted thereby disrupting hippocampal synaptic function in @entity4696 @entity1 . Such glial gene expression changes could contribute either to the onset or perpetuation of @entity308 and hence, represent targets for novel therapeutics.

Evidence for alterations of the glial syncytial function in major XXXX .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['human', 'patients'] @entity35112 :: ('3766', 'Gene') :: ['KCNJ10'] @entity308 :: ('MESH:D003866', 'Disease') :: ['Depressive Disorder', 'depressive symptoms'] @entity3264 :: ('D018698', 'Chemical') :: ['glutamate'] @entity3951 :: ('361', 'Gene') :: ['AQP4'] @entity495 :: ('2697', 'Gene') :: ['GJA1'] @entity9320 :: ('6506', 'Gene') :: ['SLC1A2'] @entity972 :: ('MESH:D011188', 'Chemical') :: ['potassium'] @entity4696 :: ('MESH:D003865', 'Disease') :: ['MDD'] @entity6485 :: ('6507', 'Gene') :: ['SLC1A3']
@entity308 :: (MESH:D003866,Disease) :: ['depressive disorder']
