Do Chemokines Have a Role in the Pathophysiology of Depression?

Abstract

Depression is a psychiatric disorder that is characterized by feelings of sadness, low energy, lethargy, and hopelessness. It can be acute and severe in response to a sudden shock resulting in major depression or chronic and mild to moderate resulting in depressive disorder that persists for weeks or months and in some cases for years. Etiologies for depression are numerous ranging from psychosocioeconomic and substance abuse to molecular alterations in the brain. Research showed that these degenerative changes in the brain are usually accompanied with HPA axis hyperactivity, downregulation of neurotrophins and neurotransmitters, irregularity in endocrine response, and chronic inflammation i..