Depression is a multifactorial, chronic disorder and represents a leading cause of disability, with women exhibiting nearly twice the lifetime prevalence compared to men. Growing evidence indicates th Show more
Depression is a multifactorial, chronic disorder and represents a leading cause of disability, with women exhibiting nearly twice the lifetime prevalence compared to men. Growing evidence indicates that this disparity cannot be explained by hormonal or psychosocial factors, but rather by dynamic interactions between environmental exposures, neuroendocrine signaling, and epigenetic regulation across development. This mini-narrative review aimed to examine how sex-specific exposome components interact with epigenetic mechanisms and synaptic remodeling processes to influence vulnerability to Major Depressive Disorder in women. The reviewed evidence demonstrates that fluctuations in ovarian hormones modulate HPA axis responsivity, neuroinflammatory signaling, and glutamatergic transmission through epigenetic regulation of stress-responsive genes such as Show less
To investigate the role of PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy in regulating synaptic remodeling of neuronal cells in depression-like behaviors induced by nonylphenol (NP). In vitro experiments: HT-22 neu Show more
To investigate the role of PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy in regulating synaptic remodeling of neuronal cells in depression-like behaviors induced by nonylphenol (NP). In vitro experiments: HT-22 neuronal cells were exposed to NP, and mitophagy and Parkin expression were inhibited using specific inhibitors. The cells were categorized into the following groups: (1) control (C) and low-dose NP group (L: 2.5 µM), medium-dose NP group (M: 50 µM), and high-dose NP groups (H: 100 µM); (2) control (C), NP (100 µM), Mdivi-1 (5 µM), and Mdivi-1 + NP (5 µM Mdivi-1 +100 µM NP) groups; (3) control (C), NP (100 µM), AC220 (2 nM), and AC220 + NP (2 nM AC220 +100 µM NP) groups. In vivo experiments: a total of 48 mice, including 24 C57BL/6 wild-type mice and 24 PKRK2 gene-knockout mice, were randomly assigned to the following four groups: control (C), NP (100 mg/kg/day), PKRK2-knockout (KO), and PKRK2-knockout + NP (100 mg/kg/day, KH) groups, with 12 mice in each group. In vitro: With increasing NP concentration, the ATP content reduced and the expressions of synaptic remodeling-related proteins (i.e., PSD-95, BDNF, SYN) decreased. In contrast, the expressions of mitophagy-related proteins and those involved in the PINK1/Parkin-signaling pathway (such as p62, Beclin1, PINK1, Parkin) increased (P < 0.05). Inhibition of mitophagy with Mdivi-1 alleviated the NP-induced changes in synaptic, mitophagy-related, and PINK1/Parkin pathway-related proteins. Similarly, the inhibition of Parkin with AC220 mitigated NP-induced effects on synaptic, mitophagy-related, and PINK1/Parkin-signaling pathway-related proteins and mRNA expression. In vivo: PKRK2 gene-knockout mice exhibited improved NP-induced depression-like behaviors and decreased NP-induced synaptic morphology and mitochondrial ultrastructure changes. Moreover, the gene knockout alleviated the downregulation of synaptic remodeling-related proteins and inhibited the PINK1/Parkin-signaling pathway-mediated mitophagy activated by NP. Mitophagy inhibition or PKRK2 knockout can alleviate NP-induced downregulation of synaptic remodeling-related proteins, protect synaptic morphology and ultrastructure, and improve NP-induced depression-like behaviors. Show less
Neuro-related disorders will be rising globally. Current treatments have numerous limitations that can impair patients' quality of life. One of the key therapeutic approaches is promoting neuroplastic Show more
Neuro-related disorders will be rising globally. Current treatments have numerous limitations that can impair patients' quality of life. One of the key therapeutic approaches is promoting neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity plays a vital role in memory, learning, and recovery of function after neural damage. Acetaminophen (Paracetamol; APAP) has been suggested as a neuroprotective treatment through modulation of neuroplasticity dose-duration dependently. This systematic review was conducted across major databases such as PubMed/MEDLINE, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science, between 2002 and October 2025, and from an initial pool of 537 articles, we selected only English-language studies with complete methodology and full results reporting the effects of acetaminophen on neuroplasticity. Preclinical evidence suggests that short-term, low-dose acetaminophen can have neuroprotective effects. Acetaminophen is metabolized in the brain to AM404, which activates TRPV1, inhibit COX-1/COX-2, and modulates the endocannabinoid system, reducing inflammation and oxidative stress. They also engage BDNF neurotrophic signalling, creating a mechanistic basis for potential neuroplasticity modulation. While low-dose, short-term acetaminophen shows neuroprotective effects in preclinical models, long-term or high-dose use may lead to neurotoxicity. Although preclinical evidence suggests that acetaminophen may influence neuroplasticity in a dose- and time-dependent manner, substantial heterogeneity in dosing protocols limits definitive conclusions. Therefore, further standardized preclinical and clinical studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up are required to define safe and effective exposure windows in humans. Show less