Immunotherapy: A potential treatment strategy for depression

This thesis found a new insight that important immune cells, lymphocytes, and inflammatory cytokines, substances secreted by these immune cells, play an important role in pathophysiology of depression. Chronic stress induced the abnormalities in pro- or anti-inflammatory lymphocyte subtypes (Th1/Th2), brain structures called microglia and related inflammatory responses in depression. In this case, the present research revealed that enhancing the immune response, or using immune drugs to target pro-inflammatory cells or cellular pathways might finally improve depression-like behaviors. Furthermore, sex differences in lymphocytes, inflammatory cytokines and neuroplasticity were found, reminding us that gender/sex need to be considered into the intervention and treatment strategies of depression. Overall, this thesis presented some novel evidences on the development of interventions and treatment strategies based on immunotherapy.