Abstract
The understanding of the neurobiological processes leading to major depressive disorder (MDD) is an active field of research in the scientific community. For years, the alteration of monoamine neurotransmission, in particular serotonin (5-HT), has been considered the most significant pathophysiological mechanism of the disorder. However, biological data supporting the postulated MDD-related monoamine alterations have been inconclusive, and the use of monoaminergic antidepressants has not yielded the expected results. In the last few years, it has been demonstrated that inflammatory pathways have a significant role in the pathophysiology of MDD. According to the cytokine hypothesis, the disorder would be due to a stress-related increased production of cytokines, including interleukins, tumor necrosis factor-α and interferon- α and γ. These, in turns, would cause the activation of the indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase (IDO), with subsequent production of tryptophan (TRP) catabolites along the IDO pathway (TRYCATs) and decreased availability of TRP and 5-HT. Besides monoamines, other molecular mechanisms, as those within the inflammatory pathways, should be taken into account in the attempt to clarify the pathophysiology of MDD and to improve its treatment.
Keywords: Cytokines, Indoleamine 2, 3 dioxygenase (IDO), inflammation, major depressive disorder (MDD), serotonin (5- HT), stress, tryptophan catabolites along the IDO pathway (TRYCATs).
Current Drug Targets
Title:Inflammation, Serotonin and Major Depression
Volume: 14 Issue: 5
Author(s): Mario Catena-Dell’Osso, Francesco Rotella, Adriana Dell’Osso, Andrea Fagiolini and Donatella Marazziti
Affiliation:
Keywords: Cytokines, Indoleamine 2, 3 dioxygenase (IDO), inflammation, major depressive disorder (MDD), serotonin (5- HT), stress, tryptophan catabolites along the IDO pathway (TRYCATs).
Abstract: The understanding of the neurobiological processes leading to major depressive disorder (MDD) is an active field of research in the scientific community. For years, the alteration of monoamine neurotransmission, in particular serotonin (5-HT), has been considered the most significant pathophysiological mechanism of the disorder. However, biological data supporting the postulated MDD-related monoamine alterations have been inconclusive, and the use of monoaminergic antidepressants has not yielded the expected results. In the last few years, it has been demonstrated that inflammatory pathways have a significant role in the pathophysiology of MDD. According to the cytokine hypothesis, the disorder would be due to a stress-related increased production of cytokines, including interleukins, tumor necrosis factor-α and interferon- α and γ. These, in turns, would cause the activation of the indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase (IDO), with subsequent production of tryptophan (TRP) catabolites along the IDO pathway (TRYCATs) and decreased availability of TRP and 5-HT. Besides monoamines, other molecular mechanisms, as those within the inflammatory pathways, should be taken into account in the attempt to clarify the pathophysiology of MDD and to improve its treatment.
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Catena-Dell’Osso Mario, Rotella Francesco, Dell’Osso Adriana, Fagiolini Andrea and Marazziti Donatella, Inflammation, Serotonin and Major Depression, Current Drug Targets 2013; 14 (5) . https://dx.doi.org/ 10.2174/13894501113149990154
DOI https://dx.doi.org/ 10.2174/13894501113149990154 |
Print ISSN 1389-4501 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-5592 |
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