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Stress, immunity, cytokines and depression
11Institute of Neurosciences, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Acta Neuropsychiatrica
|March 18, 2016
Summary
Stress and immune system activation, particularly through cytokines (signaling molecules), may contribute to depressive illness. This highlights a potential link between inflammation and mood disorders, impacting neurological functions.
Area of Science:
- Neuropsychiatry
- Immunology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Stress significantly impacts immune functioning in both animals and humans.
- Previous stressor exposure can lead to neurochemical and immunological alterations.
- Cytokines, acting as immunotransmitters, and immune challenges can be viewed as stressors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a broad overview of the relationship between stress, immunity, and depressive illness.
- To explore the influence of cytokines on neurological disorders.
- To examine commonalities between stressor and cytokine challenges on central neurochemical functioning.
Main Methods:
- Review of animal studies on stressor impact on immune functioning.
- Analysis of human studies on stress, immunity, and depressive illness.
- Examination of cytokine treatments' effects on behavior in animal models and human patients.
Main Results:
- Cytokines may instigate depressive affect through neurochemical changes, similar to psychogenic stressors.
- Activation of the inflammatory response system is provisionally linked to affective illness.
- Cytokines act as signaling molecules activating central nervous system processes regulating mood.
Conclusions:
- The inflammatory response system plays a role in affective illness.
- Cytokines are implicated as key signaling molecules in mood regulation.
- Understanding the stress-cytokine-mood axis is crucial for neuropsychiatric research.
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