The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology

Table of Contents - 2002 - Volume 5, Issue 04  


Special Section

Cytokines as a stressor: implications for depressive illness

Hymie Anisman a1c1, Shawn Hayley a1, Nicolas Turrin a1 and Zul Merali a2
a1 Institute of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
a2 School of Psychology and Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Abstract

Stressful events have been implicated in the provocation of depressive illness. Inasmuch as immunological challenge, and particularly cytokine administration, engender neuroendocrine and central neurochemical changes reminiscent of those provoked by psychogenic stressors, it was suggested that immune activation may also contribute to affective illness. The present report provides a brief overview of the neurochemical sequelae of acute and repeated interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and IL-2 treatment, describes some of the synergisms associated with these treatments, as well as their potential interactions with psychogenic stressors. In addition, a discussion is provided concerning the fact that cytokines, like stressors, may have time-dependent proactive effects, so that re-exposure to the treatments provoke greatly augmented neurochemical changes (sensitization). Given that the effects of cytokines are evident within hypothalamic, as well as extrahypothalamic sites, including various limbic regions, it is suggested that cytokines may impact on emotional changes, including depression.

(Received December 9 2001)
(Reviewed March 24 2002)
(Accepted April 28 2002)
(Revised May 1 2002)


Key Words: Cytokine; depression; interleukin; monoamine; neuroendocrine; tumour necrosis factor.

Correspondence:
c1 Address for correspondence: Dr H. Anisman, Life Science Research Building, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada. Tel.: (613) 520-2699 Fax: (613) 520-4052 E-mail: hanisman@ccs.carleton.ca

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