Chinese researchers reported what they called a decisive step toward a cell-based therapy for major depression. In a paper published in the journal Cell Stem Cell, a team from Fudan University and the Shanghai start-up UniXell Biotechnology described how it generated large batches of specific human neurons from stem cells and showed that the grafted cells quickly eased depressive behavior in laboratory mice.
The scientists used a precisely timed chemical cocktail to steer stem cells toward the A10 subtype, which regulates reward and motivation in the mid-brain. Laboratory tests confirmed that the lab-grown neurons displayed the molecular and electrical traits of natural A10 cells, including the capacity to synthesize and release dopamine.
Roughly 100,000 of the engineered neurons were transplanted into the brains of mice exposed to weeks of chronic stress. After the procedure, the animals spent more time exploring open spaces, gave up less quickly during forced-swim tests, and renewed their preference for sweetened water, a common index of pleasure seeking. “These behavioural shifts are comparable to the effects of clinically used antidepressants,” wrote the study authors. Follow-up examinations showed that the implanted cells formed synapses with neighboring neurons and received incoming signals, suggesting long-term circuit repair rather than a temporary chemical surge.
Dopamine’s role lies at the core of the project. Lower dopamine activity has been linked to treatment-resistant depression, and only the A10 subgroup projects to reward centers such as the nucleus accumbens. By restoring A10 function, the researchers aimed to correct the root neural deficit rather than modulate brain-wide neurotransmitter levels. “Targeted cell therapy may offer advantages over traditional broad-spectrum drugs,” said the scientists.
The study also noted that A10 dysfunction has been implicated in schizophrenia, opening the door to broader psychiatric applications. “The study proves the possibility of cell therapy for the treatment of mental disorders through the restoration of neural circuits,” the authors concluded.
Written with the help of a news-analysis system.