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Pharmacopsychiatry 2016; 49(03): 85-96
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-103159
Review
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Modulatory Effects of Antidepressant Classes on the Innate and Adaptive Immune System in Depression

H. A. Eyre
1   Discipline of Psychiatry, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
2   Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, UCLA, Los Angeles, USA
3   School of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
,
H. Lavretsky
2   Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, UCLA, Los Angeles, USA
,
J. Kartika
1   Discipline of Psychiatry, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
,
A. Qassim
1   Discipline of Psychiatry, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
,
B. T. Baune
1   Discipline of Psychiatry, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 24 November 2015
revised 01 January 2016

accepted 28 January 2016

Publication Date:
07 March 2016 (online)

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Abstract

Current reviews exploring for unique immune-modulatory profiles of antidepressant classes are limited by focusing mainly on cytokine modulation only and neglecting other aspects of the innate and adaptive immune system. These reviews also do not include recent comparative clinical trials, immune-genetic studies and therapeutics with unique neurotransmitter profiles (e. g., agomelatine). This systematic review extends the established literature by comprehensively reviewing the effects of antidepressants classes on both the innate and adaptive immune system. Antidepressants appear, in general, to reduce pro-inflammatory factor levels, particularly C-reactive protein (CRP), tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6. We caution against conclusions as to which antidepressant possesses the greater anti-inflammatory effect, given the methodological heterogeneity among studies and the small number of comparative studies. The effects of antidepressant classes on adaptive immune factors are complex and poorly understood, and few studies have been conducted. Methodological heterogeneity is high among these studies (e. g., length of study, cohort characteristics, dosage used and immune marker analysis). We recommend larger, comparative studies – in clinical and pre-clinical populations.

Key words

antidepressant - immune - innate - adaptive - inflammatory
 

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