Researchers at the University of Chicago have found an association between anxiety disorders and the gene that encodes Glyoxylase 1 (GLO1). However, the mechanism underlying this association is unclear.
The most prevalent psychiatric diseases in the United States are anxiety disorders, which range from post-traumatic stress disorder to social phobia.
Using a mouse model, Margaret Distler and her team set out to determine whether the primary substrate of GlO1, methylglyoxal, might have unproven neurological effects.
The normal role of GLO1 is to degrade cytotoxic byproducts of glycolysis, a function which has no clear association to anxiety.
The researchers found that methyglyoxal stimulates robust activity from GABAA receptors (neuron receptors that respond to neurotransmitters).
At present, pharmaceuticals focus on GABAA receptors as their main target for anxiety treatments. However, this study demonstrates that a definitive working link exists between anxiety and GLO1 activity.
In addition, the team found that preventing GLO1 reduced anxious behavior in mice, indicating that GLO1 may be a potential new treatment target in humans. According to the researchers, findings from the study are important not only for anxiety disorders, but also for other nervous system diseases linked with GLO1, including schizophrenia, affective disorders, and autism.
Written By Grace Rattue