Amitriptilina melhora a inflamação muscular e os sintomas depressivos de camundongos com distrofia muscular
Irlanda e USA – a amitriptilina é um depressivo antigo mas ainda bastante utilizado. Camundongos com distrofia muscular tem um grau de ansiedade maior que os camundongos controles. Nesta pesquisa os autores observaram que o tratamento com amitriptilina melhora o humor dos camundongos com distrofia muscular. Além disso ocorreu uma redução das citocinas inflamatórias nos músculos e no sistema nervoso central.
O resumo em inglês desta pesquisa pode ser lido abaixo:
(Exp Physiol, Jun 2014) Amitriptyline is efficacious in ameliorating muscle inflammation and depressive symptoms in the mdx mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Jennifer Manning, Rebecca Kulbida, Prerana Rai, Lindsay Jensen, Judith Bouma, Sanjay P. Singh, Dervla O’Malley, and Deniz Yilmazer-Hanke – Ireland and USA
Mutations in the structural protein dystrophin underlie muscular dystrophies characterized by progressive deterioration of muscle function. Dystrophin deficient mdx mice are considered a model for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). DMD sufferers are also susceptible to mood disorders such as depression and anxiety. Therefore, the study objectives are to investigate the effects of the tricyclic antidepressant, amitriptyline on mood, learning, central cytokine expression and skeletal muscle inflammation in mdx mice. Amitriptyline‐induced effects (10 mg kg−1 daily SC injections, 25 days) on the behaviour of mdx mice were investigated using the open field arena and tail suspension tests. The effects of chronic amitriptyline treatment on inflammatory markers were studied in the muscle and plasma of mdx mice and mood‐associated monoamine and cytokine concentrations were measured in the amygdala, hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, striatum, hypothalamus and midbrain. Mdx mice exhibited increased levels of anxiety and depressive‐like behaviour compared to wild‐type mice. Amitriptyline‐treatment had anxiolytic and anti‐depressant effects in mdx mice associated with elevations in serotonin levels in the amygdala and hippocampus. Inflammation in mdx skeletal muscle tissue was also reduced following amitriptyline treatment as indicated by decreased immune cell infiltration of muscle and lower levels of the pro‐inflammatory cytokines tumour necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α) and interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) in the forelimb flexors. IL‐6 mRNA expression was remarkably reduced in the amygdala of mdx mice by chronic amitriptyline treatment. Positive effects of amitriptyline on mood, in addition to its anti‐inflammatory effects in skeletal muscle, may make it an attractive therapeutic option for individuals with DMD.
