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Review

Stress-Related Dysfunction of Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis—An Attempt for Understanding Resilience?

1
Institute of Physiological Chemistry, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany
2
Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research (LIR), 55122 Mainz, Germany
3
Synaptic Immunopathology Lab, IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, 00166 Rome, Italy
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(14), 7339; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22147339
Submission received: 31 May 2021 / Revised: 2 July 2021 / Accepted: 5 July 2021 / Published: 8 July 2021
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular and Functional Aspects of Adult Neurogenesis)

Abstract

Newborn neurons in the adult hippocampus are regulated by many intrinsic and extrinsic cues. It is well accepted that elevated glucocorticoid levels lead to downregulation of adult neurogenesis, which this review discusses as one reason why psychiatric diseases, such as major depression, develop after long-term stress exposure. In reverse, adult neurogenesis has been suggested to protect against stress-induced major depression, and hence, could serve as a resilience mechanism. In this review, we will summarize current knowledge about the functional relation of adult neurogenesis and stress in health and disease. A special focus will lie on the mechanisms underlying the cascades of events from prolonged high glucocorticoid concentrations to reduced numbers of newborn neurons. In addition to neurotransmitter and neurotrophic factor dysregulation, these mechanisms include immunomodulatory pathways, as well as microbiota changes influencing the gut-brain axis. Finally, we discuss recent findings delineating the role of adult neurogenesis in stress resilience.
Keywords: adult neurogenesis; stress; major depressive disorder; resilience adult neurogenesis; stress; major depressive disorder; resilience

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MDPI and ACS Style

Leschik, J.; Lutz, B.; Gentile, A. Stress-Related Dysfunction of Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis—An Attempt for Understanding Resilience? Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22, 7339. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22147339

AMA Style

Leschik J, Lutz B, Gentile A. Stress-Related Dysfunction of Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis—An Attempt for Understanding Resilience? International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2021; 22(14):7339. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22147339

Chicago/Turabian Style

Leschik, Julia, Beat Lutz, and Antonietta Gentile. 2021. "Stress-Related Dysfunction of Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis—An Attempt for Understanding Resilience?" International Journal of Molecular Sciences 22, no. 14: 7339. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22147339

APA Style

Leschik, J., Lutz, B., & Gentile, A. (2021). Stress-Related Dysfunction of Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis—An Attempt for Understanding Resilience? International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22(14), 7339. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22147339

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