Mouse Genome sequencing

Deletion of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and upregulation of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) are associated with depression severity in animals. Neurotransmitter hypothesis of depression at transcriptomic level can be tested using BDNF- and IDO1- knockout mice models and RNA-seq. In this study, BDNF+/-, IDO1-/-, and chronic ultra-mild stress (CUMS)-induced depression mice models and controls were developed and the differentially expressed genes were analyzed using R software. Further, the ceRNA package was used to search the lncRNA2Target database for potential lncRNAs. Finally, a protein-protein interaction network (PPI) network was constructed using Stringdb. Pathway enrichment analysis and ceRNA network analysis revealed that most differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were associated with protection of vulnerable neuronal circuits. In addition, the enriched pathways were associated with nervous system development and synapse organization. The data obtained in the present study implicated the potential DEGs and their enriched pathway in three mice models related with depression, and the regulation of ceRNA network-mediated gene in the progression of depression. Together, our findings may be crucial for uncovering the mechanisms underlying the neurotransmitter hypothesis of depression in animals.