title: Cytokines as a stressor: implications for depressive illness.
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-1beta (IL-1beta), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) 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.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. hanisman@ccs.carleton.ca
authors.forename: Hymie
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Anisman
authors.forename: Shawn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hayley
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Turrin
authors.forename: Zul
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Merali
mesh_terms: D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D015306:Biogenic Monoamines / Q000502:physiology; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000502:physiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015306:Biogenic Monoamines; D016207:Cytokines; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha