Effect of ketamine and esketamine on RNA expression and its relevance for depression: a systematic review.
Pharmacological Research July 31, 2025 C. Pisanu, R. Carvalho Silva, Mattia Meattini et al. 6 citations
Ketamine and esketamine can rapidly relieve depression that does not respond to standard treatments, but how they work at the molecular level is not well understood. A systematic review of 12 studies examined changes in gene activity (RNA expression) after ketamine or esketamine treatment in people with depression or in human cells grown in the lab. The studies found that these drugs alter the activity of genes involved in brain cell communication, immune regulation, and the brain's ability to adapt and change. However, no single consistent marker in the blood was identified across studies. The findings suggest that mapping gene activity patterns could help reveal how these treatments work and identify who might benefit most, though more research is needed.