UCLA Health identifies brain cell changes linked to stress

Researchers at UCLA Health have identified a specific type of brain cell and a surface structure that undergo measurable changes during stress, potentially explaining the links between stress, anxiety, and depression.

The study, published in the journal Nature, focused on astrocytes—support cells in the brain also known as glial cells—located in the amygdala, the region responsible for fear and emotion. Researchers discovered that under chronic stress, the primary cilium, an antenna-like structure on the astrocyte, physically shortens. This change is accompanied by altered gene and protein levels.

Using mouse models, the team successfully restored the length of these cilia through two methods: a laboratory technique targeting specific receptors and a drug targeting the S1PR1 receptor. These interventions reversed molecular changes and improved stress-related behaviors, such as anxiety and reduced interest in pleasurable activities. Notably, the S1PR1 receptor is also present in human amygdala tissue.