T-bet deficient mice exhibit resistance to stress-induced development of depression-like behaviors-

Authors
S.-J. Kim, H. Lee, H.-Y. Joung, G. Lee, H.-J. Lee et al.

Lab
Kyung-Hee University, College of Oriental Medicine, Department of Physiology, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Journal
Journal of NeuroImmunology

Abstract
T-bet, a Th1-specific T-box transcription factor, regulates Th1 development by inducing endogenous Th1 cytokines and IFN-_. This study was conducted to determine if T-bet knockout mice exhibit resistance to stress-induced development of depression-like behaviors. The T-bet knockout mice significantly reduced depressive-like behaviors provoked by repeated restraint stress in an elevated plus-maze test (EPM), tail suspension test (TST), and forced swim test (FST). Moreover, stress-induced elevations of the pro-inflammatory cytokines were attenuated in T-bet deficient group. These results suggest that T-bet directly mediated stress-induced depression. Therefore, understanding T-bet function during stress represents an additional treatment strategy for depression.

BIOSEB Instruments Used:
Tail Suspension Test - Wireless (BIO-TST5)