Inflammatory abnormalities in major depressive disorder

Abstract

This chapter presents an overview of the current literature on the pathophysiology of depression and its comorbidity with various metabolic disorders that has often been associated with the abnormal immune activity resulting in chronic neuroinflammation. Increasing evidence suggests that the innate immune effector cells, such as macrophages in the peripheral circulation, and microglia and astrocytes in the central nervous system (CNS) primarily secrete proinflammatory cytokines, acute phase reactive proteins, and adhesion molecules in the presence of pathogens and stress proteins resulting in chronic inflammatory abnormalities. Recent research has shown that external pathogens and intrinsic ..