Dysregulation of NF-kB and JAK2/STAT3 signaling in the hippocampus of female WKY strain, a genetic animal model of depression

Abstract

Depression is a serious disorder with a large impact on both an individual's quality of life and society as a whole. This study aimed to evaluate the potential involvement of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-kB) and the Janus activated kinase (JAK) and Signal transducer and activator of transcription proteins (STAT) signaling pathway in the pathogenesis of genetically predisposed depression in female rats. The obtained results showed increased phosphorylation in JAK2 and STAT3, and increased protein levels of NF-kB in the hippocampus of Wistar Kyoto rats compared to Wistar rats. These results suggest that disturbance in these pathways could have a significant role in the pathophysiology of genetically predisposed depression in females.