Journal Club
Join us for our next Journal Club! For this edition, we will be discussing the paper “Psychedelics promote plasticity by directly binding to BDNF receptor TrkB” by Moliner et al. (2023). In this study a significant discovery was made regarding the neural mechanisms underlying the neuroplastic effects of psychedelics. The paper will be presented by APRA member Christian Niederauer (PhD). Don’t have a background in neuroscience? You are still more than welcome to join the discussion and expand your level of knowledge.
Why attend a Journal Club?
During Journal Clubs we discuss scientific publications related to psychedelics, dissect their contents and have an in-depth discussion about the methodology and implications of the research. Not only is it very insightful (and fun!) to do this in group form; it also helps improve your literacy of scientific publications. All levels of knowledge are welcome. You do not need to be an expert in the topics that are discussed.
Abstract
Psychedelics produce fast and persistent antidepressant effects and induce neuroplasticity resembling the effects of clinically approved antidepressants. We recently reported that pharmacologically diverse antidepressants, including fluoxetine and ketamine, act by binding to TrkB, the receptor for BDNF. Here we show that lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and psilocin directly bind to TrkB with affinities 1,000-fold higher than those for other antidepressants, and that psychedelics and antidepressants bind to distinct but partially overlapping sites within the transmembrane domain of TrkB dimers. The effects of psychedelics on neurotrophic signaling, plasticity and antidepressant-like behavior in mice depend on TrkB binding and promotion of endogenous BDNF signaling but are independent of serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2A) activation, whereas LSD-induced head twitching is dependent on 5-HT2A and independent of TrkB binding. Our data confirm TrkB as a common primary target for antidepressants and suggest that high-affinity TrkB positive allosteric modulators lacking 5-HT2A activity may retain the antidepressant potential of psychedelics without hallucinogenic effects.
Location
CREA Amsterdam (Nieuwe Achtergracht 170) – Room 2.13
Entry
APRA membership is required to attend Journal Clubs. Not a member yet, but curious to attend? Send us a message.