Highlights
- •Hypothalamic inflammation is associated with both somatic and psychiatric diseases.
- •Stress exposure may induce expression of inflammatory molecules in the hypothalamus.
- •Stress, depressive disorder and somatic diseases may be interconnected in hypothalamic inflammation.
Abstract
Data accumulated over the last two decades has demonstrated that hypothalamic inflammation
plays an important role in the etiopathogenesis of the most prevalent diseases, such
as cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome, and even cancer. Recent findings indicate
that hypothalamic inflammation is also associated with stress exposure and certain
psychiatric diseases, such as depressive disorder. Mechanistic studies have shown
that intense and/or chronic stress exposure is accompanied by the synthesis of inflammatory
molecules in the hypothalamus, altered hypothalamic–pituitary-adrenal axis activity,
and development of glucocorticoid resistance. Consequently, these factors might play
a role in the etiopathogenesis of psychiatric disorders. We propose that hypothalamic
inflammation represents an interconnection between somatic diseases and depressive
disorder. These assumptions are discussed in this mini-review in the light of available
data from studies focusing on hypothalamic inflammation.
Graphical abstract
Graphical Abstract
Abbreviations:
ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone), ATP (adenosine triphosphate), BDNF (brain derived neutrophic factor), CNS (central nervous system), CRH (corticoliberin), FA (fatty acids), FGF (fibroblast growth factor), GR (glucocorticoid receptor), HPA axis (hypothalamic–pituitary-adrenal axis), Iba1 (calcium-binding adapter molecule 1), ICAM-1 (intracellular cell adhesion molecule 1), IDO (indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase), IFN-α (interferon α), IL-1β (interleukin 1β), IL-2 (interleukin 2), IL-6 (interleukin 6), IL-10 (interleukin 10), ISC (immune system cells), MAT (metabolically active tissue), NCAM (neural cell adhesion molecule), NF-κB (nuclear factor kappa B), NLRP3 (NOD-like receptor 3), NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate), TLRs (toll-like receptors), TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor α), Trp (tryptophan), VCAM-1 (vascular cell adhesion molecule 1), SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors)Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: March 23, 2020
Accepted:
March 2,
2020
Received:
November 21,
2019
Identification
Copyright
© 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
