Modulation of Inflammation by Antidepressants

Abstract

Antidepressants have been reported to modify immune functions, and results suggest that several antidepressants may have the ability to reduce pro-inflammatory factors measured in peripheral blood. Particularly, C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-a, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 have been the target proteins that show a reduction in peripheral blood levels in antidepressant trials. In addition, the effects of antidepressants on the factors of the adaptive immune system have been observed but have been less systematically investigated with inconclusive results. Since these results suggest that both the innate and possibly the adaptive immune system may be mechanistically involved in me..