Natural killer (NK) cells in bipolar disorders

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Bipolar disorder (BD) is associated with neuroinflammation and immune dysregulation.
• Natural killer (NK) cells, crucial for innate immunity, are implicated in BD pathophysiology due to increased infection susceptibility and autoimmune processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current knowledge on NK cell characteristics in BD.
• To explore the role of environmental risk factors and immune cell crosstalk in BD-associated NK cell abnormalities.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of phenotypic and functional NK cell characteristics in BD patients.
• Analysis of NK cell subsets, including "adaptive NK cells", in the context of viral infections.

Main Results:

• Patients with BD exhibit persistent NK cell activation.
• An expansion of "adaptive NK cells", typically seen in viral infections, is observed in BD.
• NK cell deregulation in BD may stem from unresolved infections or genetic factors.

Conclusions:

• Dysregulated NK cells in BD contribute to impaired immunity, chronic inflammation, and neuro-immune damage.
• These abnormalities may underlie cognitive decline and treatment resistance in BD.
• Further research into NK cells is crucial for understanding BD pathophysiology.