The Role of Depressive Subtypes within the Neuroinflammation Hypothesis of Major Depressive Disorder

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-1-2019

Abstract

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a very common disease that affects more than 350 million people worldwide, representing an enormous socioeconomic burden. From a clinical perspective, MDD can be divided into different subtypes, such as melancholic or atypical MDD. Interestingly, increasing evidence points toward an involvement of the immune system in MDD pathogenesis. However, inflammation does not seem to have the same impact on every MDD type. Here, we describe how inflammation can affect monoaminergic and glutamatergic neurotransmission, which provides a possible mechanism for MDD onset. Next, we examine the regional specificity of neuroinflammation, which shows striking overlaps with neural patterns activated in atypical MDD. Furthermore, we outline how inflammation may translate to subtype-specific clinical features and we suggest how this could be used for diagnostic and treatment purposes. By providing a link back to a dysregulated immune system as a contributing factor to MDD subtypes, we explain how brain regions particularly affected by certain subtypes may regulate the cortisol circuitry.

Identifier

85045555083 (Scopus)

Publication Title

Neuroscience

External Full Text Location

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2018.03.034

e-ISSN

18737544

ISSN

03064522

PubMed ID

29604382

First Page

93

Last Page

110

Volume

403

Grant

KA 4514/1-1

Fund Ref

German Academic Exchange Service London

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