A recent review on the effects of the novel antidepressant drugs on astrocytes also underlines the role of Kir4.1 upregulation in the pathogenesis of depression [41]: the authors hypothesized that increased Kir4.1 function might foster astrocyte-mediated glutamate uptake and consequently reduce the extracellular glutamate. The gene discussed is KCNJ10; the disease is major depressive disorder.