Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Antidepressant Drugs: Tricyclics, SSRIs, and SNRIs

Antidepressant Drugs: Tricyclics, SSRIs, and SNRIs

Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs), including Desipramine (Norpramin), Imipramine (Tofranil), Clomipramine (Anafranil), and Amitriptyline (Elavil), inhibit serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake and also block other receptors. They are used for depression, pain conditions, and insomnia. Common adverse effects include anticholinergic effects, sedation, orthostatic hypotension, and weight gain. They have a narrow therapeutic window and so require plasma-level monitoring. Abrupt discontinuation can...

Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents

Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents

Atypical antidepressants, including bupropion (Wellbutrin), mirtazapine (Remeron), nefazodone (Serzone), trazodone (Desyrel), and vilazodone (Viibryd), offer unique mechanisms of action. Bupropion weakly inhibits dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake, aiding depression treatment and smoking cessation, with a low risk of sexual dysfunction. Mirtazapine enhances serotonin and norepinephrine neurotransmission, leading to sedation, increased appetite, and weight gain. As a result, it helps treat...

Phase I Reactions: Reductive Reactions

Phase I Reactions: Reductive Reactions

Phase I biotransformation reductive reactions are chemical processes that modify drugs by introducing or revealing polar functional groups via reduction. Enzymes called reductases catalyze these reactions, playing a pivotal role in drug metabolism by transforming lipophilic drugs into more polar, water-soluble metabolites for easy excretion. An essential type of reductive reaction is the carbonyl group reduction, where aldehydes and ketones are reduced to alcohols. An example is the...

Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Biologic Agents: Anti-TNF

Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Biologic Agents: Anti-TNF

Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF), a proinflammatory cytokine, contributes significantly to the inflammation seen in Crohn's disease. It exists as soluble TNF and membrane-bound TNF, with actions mediated through TNF receptors (TNFR). TNFR activation leads to the release of proinflammatory cytokines, T-cell activation, collagen production, and leukocyte migration, all contributing to inflammation in Crohn's disease. Anti-TNF monoclonal antibodies, namely infliximab (Remicade), adalimumab (Humira),...

Antidepressant Drugs: Overview

Antidepressant Drugs: Overview

Antidepressant drugs are a class of medications primarily used for treating various mood disorders, including major depression, anxiety disorders, and other related conditions. These medicines work by modulating the neurotransmitter balance within the brain, alleviating depressive symptoms. Antidepressants can be broadly categorized into several groups according to their mechanism of action and chemical structure: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), Serotonin-Norepinephrine...

Drugs Affecting Neurotransmitter Release or Uptake

Drugs Affecting Neurotransmitter Release or Uptake

Certain drugs can affect how neurotransmitters called catecholamines, are released or taken back up in the adrenergic neuron. They can have different effects on the body's sympathetic transmission. Reserpine, a natural compound found in the Rauwolfia shrub, blocks a transporter called vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT), which leads to a buildup of catecholamines in the cell and reduces sympathetic transmission. Another drug called guanethidine works in multiple ways, including blocking...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

The Impact of Zinc on T Cell Motility and the Immunological Synapse.

International journal of molecular sciences·2026

Same author

Interpersonal wounds and identity among people with anorexia nervosa: a qualitative content analysis of autobiographical memories elicited by disgust-related cues.

Journal of eating disorders·2026

Same author

A 3-Year Split-Mouth Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial of Zirconia and Titanium Implant-Supported Overdentures.

Journal of functional biomaterials·2026

Same author

Virtual reality interventions in obesity and eating disorders: a systematic review of biomarker, clinical, and behavioral outcomes.

Reviews in endocrine & metabolic disorders·2026

Same author

Understanding experiences of psychedelic treatments for eating disorders: a meta-synthesis of qualitative studies.

BMC medicine·2026

Same author

Leukocyte concentrations of inpatients with anorexia nervosa.

Frontiers in psychiatry·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Network Pharmacology and Validation of the Antidepressant Mechanisms of Qiangzhifang in a Chronic Restraint Stress-induced Depression Rat Model

Network Pharmacology and Validation of the Antidepressant Mechanisms of Qiangzhifang in a Chronic Restraint Stress-induced Depression Rat Model

Published on: June 6, 2025

IFN-gamma reduction by tricyclic antidepressants.

Hubertus Himmerich¹, Stephany Fulda, Abigail J Sheldrick

¹Aachen University, Germany.

International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine

|March 12, 2011

Summary

Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) may reduce interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production, potentially aiding depression treatment. However, venlafaxine and its metabolite showed no significant effect on IFN-gamma secretion in this study.

More Related Videos

The Forced Swim Test as a Model of Depressive-like Behavior

The Forced Swim Test as a Model of Depressive-like Behavior

Published on: March 2, 2015

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Network Pharmacology and Validation of the Antidepressant Mechanisms of Qiangzhifang in a Chronic Restraint Stress-induced Depression Rat Model

Network Pharmacology and Validation of the Antidepressant Mechanisms of Qiangzhifang in a Chronic Restraint Stress-induced Depression Rat Model

Published on: June 6, 2025

The Forced Swim Test as a Model of Depressive-like Behavior

The Forced Swim Test as a Model of Depressive-like Behavior

Published on: March 2, 2015

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Immunology
Pharmacology

Background:

Pro-inflammatory cytokines, like interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), are implicated in depression.
Antidepressants may work by suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokine production.
The effect of venlafaxine and its metabolite on IFN-gamma secretion is unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the impact of venlafaxine and O-desmethylvenlafaxine on IFN-gamma secretion.
To compare the effects of these drugs with tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs).

Main Methods:

Whole blood assay using toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) as a stimulant.
Measurement of IFN-gamma levels in blood supplemented with antidepressants or not.
Study conducted on healthy female subjects.

Main Results:

Mean IFN-gamma concentrations differed significantly between blood with and without antidepressant supplements (p = 0.026).
Four TCAs (amitriptyline, nortriptyline, imipramine, desipramine) significantly reduced IFN-gamma levels compared to controls.
No significant difference in IFN-gamma levels was observed for venlafaxine or O-desmethylvenlafaxine compared to the control.

Conclusions:

TCAs may exert antidepressant effects partly by suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokine production.
Venlafaxine and its metabolite did not demonstrate a significant effect on IFN-gamma secretion in this whole blood assay.
Further research is needed to elucidate the immunomodulatory roles of different antidepressant classes.