title: The immune theory of psychiatric diseases: a key role for activated microglia and circulating monocytes.
abstract: This review describes a key role for mononuclear phagocytes in the pathogenesis of major psychiatric disorders. There is accumulating evidence for activation of microglia (histopathology and PET scans) and circulating monocytes (enhanced gene expression of immune genes, an overproduction of monocyte/macrophage-related cytokines) in patients with bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and schizophrenia. These data are strengthened by observations in animal models, such as the MIA models, the chronic stress models, and the NOD mouse model. In these animal models of depressive-, anxiety-, and schizophrenia-like behavior, similar activations of microglia and circulating monocytes can be found. These animal models also make in-depth pathogenic studies possible and show that microglia activation impacts neuronal development and function in brain areas congruent with the altered depressive and schizophrenia-like behaviors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. w.beumer@erasmusmc.nl
authors.forename: Wouter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Beumer
authors.forename: Sinead M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Gibney
authors.forename: Roosmarijn C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Drexhage
authors.forename: Lorena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pont-Lezica
authors.forename: Janine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Doorduin
authors.forename: Hans C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: Johann
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Steiner
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Connor
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Harkin
authors.forename: Marjan A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Versnel
authors.forename: Hemmo A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Drexhage
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D017628:Microglia / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism