Reelin helps tissues rebuild and guides neurons during development. New experiments suggest stress lowers Reelin in both gut and brain, and restoring it in animal models repaired the intestinal barrier and produced rapid antidepressant-like effects. That link suggests a therapy could treat mood by strengthening the gut’s defenses rather than acting only on neurotransmitters.
If this pathway holds up in humans, it could widen how we support mental health, especially for people whose depression follows chronic stress or inflammatory illness. Follow the full article to see how researchers tested Reelin, what hurdles remain before clinical use, and what this might mean for more inclusive, body-aware approaches to treating mood disorders.
Chronic stress can damage the gut’s protective lining, triggering inflammation that may worsen depression. New research shows that stress lowers levels of a protein called Reelin, which plays a key role in both gut repair and brain health. Remarkably, a single injection restored Reelin levels and produced antidepressant-like effects in preclinical models. The findings hint at a future treatment that targets depression through the gut–brain connection.
