PMID- 18479217 OWN - NLM STAT- MEDLINE DCOM- 20080829 LR - 20191110 IS - 1744-7631 (Electronic) IS - 1472-8222 (Linking) VI - 12 IP - 6 DP - 2008 Jun TI - Targeting TrkB neurotrophin receptor to treat depression. PG - 705-15 LID - 10.1517/14728222.12.6.705 [doi] AB - BACKGROUND: An increasing number of findings point out the key role of the BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) receptor, tyrosine kinase receptor B (TrkB), in the regulation of antidepressant drug actions. Therefore, targeting TrkB receptors might be a rational strategy to develop novel antidepressant drugs. OBJECTIVE/METHODS: In this review we will discuss several approaches to targeting the TrkB receptor using existing or novel drugs. We will mainly concentrate on the following issues: i) synthesis, release and cleavage of neurotrophins; ii) augmentation of the actions of neurotrophins; iii) synthesis of TrkB; iv) developing agonists for TrkB; and v) TrkB transactivation. CONCLUSIONS: Different molecular approaches can be used to screen antidepressant drugs acting through TrkB receptors but it remains to be seen whether they demonstrate therapeutic antidepressant effects. FAU - Rantamaki, Tomi AU - Rantamaki T AD - University of Helsinki, Neuroscience Center, P.O. Box 56, Helsinki, Finland. FAU - Castren, Eero AU - Castren E LA - eng PT - Journal Article PT - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PT - Review PL - England TA - Expert Opin Ther Targets JT - Expert opinion on therapeutic targets JID - 101127833 RN - 0 (Antidepressive Agents) RN - 0 (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor) RN - EC 2.7.10.1 (Receptor, trkB) SB - IM MH - Animals MH - Antidepressive Agents/therapeutic use MH - Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor/metabolism MH - Depression/*drug therapy/metabolism MH - Humans MH - Receptor, trkB/*metabolism RF - 110 EDAT- 2008/05/16 09:00 MHDA- 2008/08/30 09:00 CRDT- 2008/05/16 09:00 PHST- 2008/05/16 09:00 [pubmed] PHST- 2008/08/30 09:00 [medline] PHST- 2008/05/16 09:00 [entrez] AID - 10.1517/14728222.12.6.705 [pii] AID - 10.1517/14728222.12.6.705 [doi] PST - ppublish SO - Expert Opin Ther Targets. 2008 Jun;12(6):705-15. doi: 10.1517/14728222.12.6.705.