Depression is like a shadow that dims the brightness of life. Its causes are still somewhat of a mystery, but what if I told you there might be a link between depression and something as unexpected as a virus infection during infancy? Could it be that being infected by viruses can have a long-lasting harmful effect on our mental health?
A recent discovery by a team of Japanese researchers at Jikei University School of Medicine in Tokyo suggests just that. They’ve uncovered a potential connection between an infection during infancy and depression later in life. This particular virus, known as human herpes virus type 6 (HHV6), has long been associated with a common childhood illness called exanthema subitum, which causes a fever lasting about three days. What’s intriguing is that almost everyone is infected with this virus during infancy, and it remains inactive in our bodies throughout our lives.
The team’s breakthrough came when they discovered that certain proteins produced by HHV6, called SITH1 proteins, may play a role in the development of depression. These proteins seem to become more active during periods of stress or fatigue, leading to a higher likelihood of depression.
Through experiments with mice, the researchers uncovered part of the mechanism behind how depression develops. They found that HHV6 can reactivate brain cells, potentially contributing to the onset of depression.
In their latest study, the team delved deeper into the genetic makeup of HHV6 and found that it can be classified into two types: one that easily produces the SITH1 protein and another that does so less readily. Interestingly, they discovered that a significant proportion of patients with depression were infected with the type of HHV6 that readily produces the SITH1 protein.
So, what does this mean for us? Well, it challenges the conventional wisdom that depression is solely influenced by genetic factors. Instead, it suggests that early viral infections, particularly those transmitted from mothers to infants, could also play a significant role in predisposing individuals to depression later in life.
As Professor Kazuhiro Kondo, a member of the research team, aptly puts it, “When we uncover the mechanism, we can also find solutions.”
Who knew that viruses could have such an impact on our mental well-being? It just goes to show, the mysteries of the human mind are far more complex than we ever imagined!
The author is a postdoctoral researcher at Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.
(ammar.shakr@gmail.com)
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