Exploring Esketamine's Therapeutic Role for Perinatal Depression via TASK-1 Tandem Pore Potassium Channels.
ACS chemical neuroscience July 29, 2025 Lin Zhu, Ji Chen, Yuan Liu et al. 1 citation
Esketamine significantly lowers depression scores in new mothers with perinatal depression, as shown in a clinical trial with 298 full-term pregnant women. The antidepressant effect is linked to modulation of TASK-1 potassium channels, which reduces neuroinflammation and depressive-like symptoms. Studies in mouse models and cultured neurons confirm that esketamine acts through these channels to alter synaptic plasticity proteins. This work identifies a specific neural pathway for esketamine's rapid action, offering a promising therapeutic avenue for perinatal depression.