Potential Use of Stem Cells in Mood Disorders

Mood disorders are heterogeneous conditions characterized by complex genetics, unclear pathophysiology, and variable symptomatology. Currently, there is no biomarker for the diagnosis or prognosis of mood disorders, and the treatments are of limited efficacy in a significant proportion of patients. Furthermore, the disease models are not able to recapitulate their complexity. In this scenario, stem cells may have different applications in mood disorders. Circulating stem cells may be regarded as potential biomarkers. Mesenchymal stem cells are a promising therapeutic strategy for mood disorders as they promote neurogenesis and increase the expression of neurotrophic factors that enhance the survival and differentiation of neurons. In addition, induced pluripotent stem cells, cells reprogrammed from somatic cells of healthy subjects or patients, offer a great opportunity to recapitulate both normal and pathological development of human brain tissues, thereby opening a new avenue for disease modeling and drug development in a more disease-relevant system.