title: Selfish brain and selfish immune system interplay: A theoretical framework for metabolic comorbidities of mood disorders.
abstract: According to the "selfish brain" theory, the brain regulates its own energy supply influencing the peripheral metabolism and food intake according to its needs. The immune system has been likewise "selfish" due to independent energy consumption; and it may compete with the brain (another high energy-consumer) for glucose. In mood disorders, stress in mood episodes or physiological stress activate homeostasis mechanisms from the brain and the immune system to solve the imbalance. The interaction between the selfish brain and the selfish immune system may explain various conditions of medical impairment in mood disorders, such as Metabolic Syndrome (MetS), obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and immune dysregulation. The objective of this study is to comprehensively review the literature regarding the competition between the brain and the immune system for energy substrate. Targeting the energetic regulation of the brain and the immune system and their cross-talk open alternative treatments and a different approach in the study of general medical comorbidities in mood disorders, although more investigation is needed.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biosciences University of São Paulo (USP). R. do Matão, 14, 321 - Butantã, São Paulo, SP, 05508-090, Brazil,; Research Group of Behavioral and Molecular Neuroscience of Bipolar Disorder, Department of Psychiatry, Federal University of São Paulo (Unifesp). R. Pedro de Toledo, 669-3rd Floor, Vila Clementino, São Paulo, SP, CEP 04039-032, Brazil. Electronic address: ana.yamagata@usp.br.
authors.forename: Ana Sayuri
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Yamagata
authors.affiliation: Research Group of Behavioral and Molecular Neuroscience of Bipolar Disorder, Department of Psychiatry, Federal University of São Paulo (Unifesp). R. Pedro de Toledo, 669-3rd Floor, Vila Clementino, São Paulo, SP, CEP 04039-032, Brazil; Mood Disorders Psychopharmachology Unit (MDPU), University of Toronto. 399 Bathurst Street, MP 9-325, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 2S8, Canada.
authors.forename: Rodrigo Barbachan
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Mansur
authors.affiliation: Research Group of Behavioral and Molecular Neuroscience of Bipolar Disorder, Department of Psychiatry, Federal University of São Paulo (Unifesp). R. Pedro de Toledo, 669-3rd Floor, Vila Clementino, São Paulo, SP, CEP 04039-032, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lucas Bortolotto
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Rizzo
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiological Science, Santa Casa de São Paulo Medical School. R. Doutor Cesário Motta Júnior, 61 - Vila Buarque, São Paulo - SP, 01221-020 Brazil.
authors.forename: Tatiana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rosenstock
authors.affiliation: Mood Disorders Psychopharmachology Unit (MDPU), University of Toronto. 399 Bathurst Street, MP 9-325, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 2S8, Canada.
authors.forename: Roger S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: McIntyre
authors.affiliation: Research Group of Behavioral and Molecular Neuroscience of Bipolar Disorder, Department of Psychiatry, Federal University of São Paulo (Unifesp). R. Pedro de Toledo, 669-3rd Floor, Vila Clementino, São Paulo, SP, CEP 04039-032, Brazil.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brietzke
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain; D015897:Comorbidity; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000378:metabolism*
keywords: Bipolar disorder; Brain energy metabolism; Immune system energy metabolism; Inflammation; Major depressive disorder; Metabolic syndrome