Dantzer Robert, O'Connor Jason C, Freund Gregory G, Johnson Rodney W, Kelley Keith W
Integrative Immunology & Behavior, Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois 61801, USA.
Nat Rev Neurosci. 2008 Jan;9(1):46-56. doi: 10.1038/nrn2297.
In response to a peripheral infection, innate immune cells produce pro-inflammatory cytokines that act on the brain to cause sickness behaviour. When activation of the peripheral immune system continues unabated, such as during systemic infections, cancer or autoimmune diseases, the ensuing immune signalling to the brain can lead to an exacerbation of sickness and the development of symptoms of depression in vulnerable individuals. These phenomena might account for the increased prevalence of clinical depression in physically ill people. Inflammation is therefore an important biological event that might increase the risk of major depressive episodes, much like the more traditional psychosocial factors.
针对外周感染，先天性免疫细胞会产生促炎细胞因子，这些因子作用于大脑，引发疾病行为。当外周免疫系统的激活持续不减时，比如在全身感染、癌症或自身免疫性疾病期间，随后向大脑传递的免疫信号会导致病情加重，并使易感个体出现抑郁症状。这些现象可能解释了身体疾病患者中临床抑郁症患病率增加的原因。因此，炎症是一个重要的生物学事件，它可能会增加重度抑郁发作的风险，这与更为传统的心理社会因素非常相似。
