LAUSR

AIMS To clarify the role of the gut-brain axis in depression. MAIN METHODS We used the iTRAQ technique to identify differential proteins in the intestine of the rat model of chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS)-induced depression. Significant differential proteins were subjected to Gene Ontology (GO) functional annotations and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis. Key proteins were validated at the mRNA and protein levels. The levels of cytokines in the intestine, serum and hypothalamus were examined by ELISA. HPLC-UV was used to detect the levels of amino acids. KEY FINDINGS In the rat intestine, 349 differential proteins (209 downregulated, 140 upregulated) were identified. GO analysis indicated that "protein complex assembly" was the first-ranked biological process. SNARE complex components, including SNAP23, VAMP3 and VAMP8, were increased at the mRNA levels, while only VAMP3 and VAMP8 were also upregulated at the protein level. TNFα, IL6 and IL1β were upregulated in the CUMS rat intestine, while TNFα was decreased in the serum and hypothalamus. IL1β was decreased in the serum. "Protein digestion and absorption" was the most significantly enriched KEGG pathway, involving 5 differential proteins: SLC9A3, ANPEP, LAT1, ASCT2 and B0AT1. Glutamine, glycine and aspartic acid were perturbed in the CUMS rat intestine. SIGNIFICANCE Our findings suggest that CUMS enhances the adaptive immune response in the intestine through ER-phagosome pathway mediated by SNARE complex and disturb absorption of amino acids. It advances our understanding of the role of gut-brain axis in depression and provides a potential therapeutic target for the disease.