Weronika Koga

Ms. Weronika Koga

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

2Years (2025-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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10 April 2025 in Brain Sciences
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
MKMikołaj Kubiak
Mikołaj Kubiak
WMWiktoria Majewska
Wiktoria Majewska
MKMaria Kachel
Maria Kachel
ADAntonina Dola
Antonina Dola
WKWeronika Koga
Weronika Koga
Aleksandra SzczepankiewiczAleksandra Szczepankiewicz
Aleksandra Szczepankiewicz
Background: Depression is a common psychiatric disorder that may be caused by dysregulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) plays a significant role in regulating this axis. One negative regulator of GR action, previously associated with depressive behavior, is the overexpression of FK506-binding protein 5 (FKBP5), which may be regulated by microRNAs, including miR-511-5p. Objectives: In a rat model of depression, we aimed to investigate the expression of Fkbp5 and its regulator, miRNA-511-5p, during short- and long-term lithium treatment in four brain regions: the hypothalamus, hippocampus, pituitary, and frontal cortex. Methods: We used a rat model of depression induced by chronic mild stress (CMS) to assess if short- and long-term lithium treatment (7 and 42 days) influences Fkbp5 expression in the brain. We also assessed the effects of lithium treatment on the blood levels of corticosterone in CMS-exposed rats as compared to control groups. The changes in the expression of Fkbp5 were assessed by qPCR and Western blot. The expression of rno-miR-511-5p was assessed using qPCR. Statistical analysis was conducted in GraphPad Prism 9. Results: We found that long-term lithium treatment increased the expression of the FKBP5 protein in the pituitary gland in the lithium-treated rats compared to the control group. We also observed significant changes in Fkbp5 mRNA levels between CMS-exposed rats compared to the control animals, without significant changes in mRNA levels observed during short- and long-term lithium treatment in any brain region. We found no expression of rno-miR-511-5p in the analyzed brain regions. The corticosterone levels were significantly higher in CMS-exposed rats compared to the control, with no significant changes found between lithium-treated and control rats. Conclusions: FKBP5 protein expression in the brain may be regulated by long-term lithium treatment, thus affecting GR signaling in the rat depression model.