Does mineralocorticoid receptor play a vital role in the development of depressive disorder?

Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide. However, the biological and molecular mechanisms underlying this disease remain unclear. Stress, a disposing factor in the development of depression, leads to hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activation and glucocorticoids release. Glucocorticoids at physiological concentrations activate two types of steroid receptors including the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and mineralocorticoid receptor (MR). During the past decades, lots of studies have confirmed the role of GR in depression. An increasing number of studies, in recent years, indicate that abnormal function of MR is also a crucial component of the pathophysiology of depression. Thus, this review summarizes the role of MR in the HPA axis dysregulation, inflammation, decreased neurogenesis and stress-related behaviors in depression. All of which will provide more information about MR in depression.