WNT/beta-catenin pathway and circadian rhythms in obsessive-compulsive disorder

The neuropsychiatric disease named obsessive-compulsive disorder is composed by obsessions and/or compulsions. Obsessive-compulsive disorder etiologies are undefined. However, numerous mechanisms in several localizations are implicated. Some studies showed that both glutamate, inflammatory factors and oxidative stress could have main functions in obsessive-compulsive disorder. Glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta, the major negative controller of the WNT/beta-catenin pathway is upregulated in obsessive-compulsive disorder. In obsessive-compulsive disorder, some studies presented the actions of the different circadian clock genes. WNT/beta-catenin pathway and circadian clock genes appear to be intricate. Thus, this review focuses on the interaction between circadian clock genes and the WNT/beta-catenin pathway in obsessive-compulsive disorder.