title: Immune and neurotrophin stimulation by electroconvulsive therapy: is some inflammation needed after all?
abstract: A low-grade inflammatory response is commonly seen in the peripheral blood of major depressive disorder (MDD) patients, especially those with refractory and chronic disease courses. However, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), the most drastic intervention reserved for these patients, is closely associated with an enhanced haematogenous as well as neuroinflammatory immune response, as evidenced by both human and animal studies. A related line of experimental evidence further shows that inflammatory stimulation reinforces neurotrophin expression and may even mediate dramatic neurogenic and antidepressant-like effects following exposure to chronic stress. The current review therefore attempts a synthesis of our knowledge on the neurotrophic and immunological aspects of ECT and other electrically based treatments in psychiatry. Perhaps contrary to contemporary views, we conclude that targeted potentiation, rather than suppression, of inflammatory responses may be of therapeutic relevance to chronically depressed patients or a subgroup thereof.
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Center for Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands [2] Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: van Buel
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Center for Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands [2] Institute of Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis, Center for Molecular Neurobiology, University Medical Center Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Patas
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Center for Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Bosker
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Center for Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands [2] Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: U L M
authors.initials: UL
authors.lastname: Eisel
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands [2] Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Klein
mesh_terms: D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000502:physiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D009414:Nerve Growth Factors