Discovery of New Protein Could Play Crucial Role In Treating Depression

Associated Press
January 5, 2006 11:13 p.m.

WASHINGTON -- Scientists have discovered a protein that seems to play a crucial role in developing depression, a finding that may lead to new treatments for the often debilitating illness _ and fundamental understanding of why it strikes.

Although problems with the mood-regulating brain chemical serotonin have long been linked to depression, scientists don't know what causes the disease that afflicts some 18 million Americans -- or exactly what serotonin's role is.

The newly found protein, named p11, appears to regulate how brain cells respond to serotonin, researchers from Rockefeller University and Sweden's Karolinska Institute report Friday in the journal Science.
posted by Matthew Norman, M.D. at 10:29:00 PM