Jing P, Sun C, Yin XP, Liu XC, Tian Q, Zhang XB. Role of astrocytes in the development and progression of major depressive disorder. World J Psychiatry 2026; 16(5): 115794 [DOI: 10.5498/wjp.v16.i5.115794]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Xiao-Bin Zhang, Department of Psychiatry, Suzhou Guangji Hospital, The Affiliated Guangji Hospital of Soochow University, No. 11 Guangqian Road, Xiangcheng District, Suzhou 215137, Jiangsu Province, China. zhangxiaobim@163.com
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Psychiatry
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Review
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This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
May 19, 2026 (publication date) through May 5, 2026
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Publication Name
World Journal of Psychiatry
ISSN
2220-3206
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Baishideng Publishing Group Inc, 7041 Koll Center Parkway, Suite 160, Pleasanton, CA 94566, USA
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Jing P, Sun C, Yin XP, Liu XC, Tian Q, Zhang XB. Role of astrocytes in the development and progression of major depressive disorder. World J Psychiatry 2026; 16(5): 115794 [DOI: 10.5498/wjp.v16.i5.115794]
Pan Jing, Xiao-Peng Yin, Xi-Cheng Liu, Department of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Kangning Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo 315201, Zhejiang Province, China
Pan Jing, Xiao-Peng Yin, Xi-Cheng Liu, Medical Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315200, Zhejiang Province, China
Chao Sun, Department of Psychiatry, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou 215137, Jiangsu Province, China
Xi-Cheng Liu, Department of Psychiatry, Xiangshan Third People’s Hospital, Ningbo 315700, Zhejiang Province, China
Qing Tian, Xiao-Bin Zhang, Department of Psychiatry, Suzhou Guangji Hospital, The Affiliated Guangji Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215137, Jiangsu Province, China
Co-first authors: Pan Jing and Chao Sun.
Co-corresponding authors: Qing Tian and Xiao-Bin Zhang.
Author contributions: Jing P and Sun C contributed to conceptualization and made equal contributions as co-first authors; Jing P, Sun C, Yin XP, and Liu XC contributed to writing of the original draft; Yin XP and Liu XC performed review and editing; Tian Q and Zhang XB contributed to conception and design, assistance in drafting the article, revising it critically for important intellectual content, and contributed equally as co-corresponding authors. All authors approved the final version to publish.
Supported by Ningbo Top Medical and Health Research Program, No. 2022030410; Zhejiang Medical and Health Science and Technology Project, No. 2023KY1126; Suzhou Clinical Medical Center for Mood Disorders, No. Szlcyxzx202109; Suzhou Key Laboratory, No. SZS2024016; and Multicenter Clinical Research on Major Diseases in Suzhou, No. DZXYJ202413.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Corresponding author: Xiao-Bin Zhang, Department of Psychiatry, Suzhou Guangji Hospital, The Affiliated Guangji Hospital of Soochow University, No. 11 Guangqian Road, Xiangcheng District, Suzhou 215137, Jiangsu Province, China. zhangxiaobim@163.com
Received: October 27, 2025 Revised: December 14, 2025 Accepted: January 15, 2026 Published online: May 19, 2026 Processing time: 186 Days and 6.1 Hours
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most prevalent psychiatric illnesses worldwide which impairs the social functioning of the afflicted patients. Astrocytes play a role in the maintenance of the function of the central nervous system, both physiologically and pathologically. Increasing evidence suggests that the number, volume and function of astrocytes are altered in the depressed brain. The glial fibrillary acidic protein and S100β protein, which are closely associated with astrocytes, also show significant alterations in patients with MDD. Astrocyte-derived glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) not only exerts neuroprotective effects in the central and peripheral nervous systems but also plays a role in depressive symptomatology and the pharmacological action of antidepressant treatments. Here, we summarize the physiological functions of astrocytes, alterations in the number and volume of astrocytes in MDD patients, changes in GDNF and S100β levels in MDD patients, and the association between MDD and GDNF-collectively highlighting the pivotal role of astrocytes in the development and progression of MDD.
Core Tip: Major depressive disorder is one of the most prevalent psychiatric illnesses worldwide which impairs the social functioning of the afflicted patients. Astrocytes play a role in the maintenance of the function of the central nervous system, both physiologically and pathologically. Increasing evidence suggests that the number, volume and function of astrocytes are altered in the depressed brain. The glial fibrillary acidic protein and S100β protein, which are closely associated with astrocytes, also show significant alterations in patients with major depressive disorder. Astrocyte-derived glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor not only exerts neuroprotective effects in the central and peripheral nervous systems but also plays a role in depressive symptomatology and the pharmacological action of antidepressant treatments.
