Cited by 261Tryptophan and brain disordersStress Responses and CortisolTreatment of Major Depression

Mechanisms of cytokine-induced behavioral changes: psychoneuroimmunology at the translational interface

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Miller, Andrew H.·2009·Brain, Behavior, and Immunity

Abstract

Work in our laboratory has focused on the mechanisms by which cytokines can influence the brain and behavior in humans and non-human primates. Using administration of interferon (IFN)-alpha as a tool to unravel these mechanisms, we have expanded upon findings from the basic science literature implicating cytokine-induced changes in monoamine metabolism as a primary pathway to depression. More specifically, a role for serotonin metabolism has been supported by the clinical efficacy of serotonin reuptake inhibitors in blocking the development of IFN-alpha-induced depression, and the capacity of IFN-alpha to activate metabolic enzymes (indolamine 2,3 dioxygenase) and cytokine signaling pathways (p38 mitogen activated protein kinase) that can influence the synthesis and reuptake of serotonin. Our data also support a role for dopamine depletion as reflected by IFN-alpha-induced changes in behavior (psychomotor slowing and fatigue) and regional brain activity, which implicate the involvement of the basal ganglia, as well as the association of IFN-alpha-induced depressive-like behavior in rhesus monkeys with decreased cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of the dopamine metabolite, homovanillic acid. Neuroimaging data in IFN-alpha-treated patients also suggest that activation of neural circuits (dorsal anterior cingulate cortex) associated with anxiety and alarm may contribute to cytokine-induced behavioral changes. Taken together, these effects of cytokines on the brain and behavior appear to subserve competing evolutionary survival priorities that promote reduced activity to allow healing, and hypervigilance to protect against future attack. Depending on the relative balance between these behavioral accoutrements of an activated innate immune response, clinical presentations may be distinct and warrant individualized therapeutic approaches.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.bbi.2008.08.006

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  • Activation of MAPK increases the expression of reuptake pumps for serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine, subsequently decreasing the availability of monoamines at the synaptic cleft.

    “Activation of MAPK increases the expression of reuptake pumps for serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine, subsequently decreasing the availability of monoamines at the synaptic cleft (126).”

    From Chronic stress, neuroinflammation, and depression: an overview of pathophysiological mechanisms and emerging anti-inflammatories (2023) · cites this paper as [126]

    In the ‘Role of Serotonin’ and ‘Role of Dopamine’ sections (page unavailable), the paper reports that MAPK signaling increases serotonin and norepinephrine transporter expression and activity, and dopamine transporter surface expression. It says increased dopamine and norepinephrine transporter activity *may* reduce synaptic dopamine and norepinephrine availability; the claim presents reduced availability of all three monoamines as an established result. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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  1. Horikawa N Yamazaki T Sagawa M Nagata T 1999 A case of akathisia during interferon-alpha therapy for chronic hepatitis type C Gen Hosp Psychiatry 21 134 5 10228895

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Authors
Miller, A. H.
Affiliations
Emory University (US)
Corresponding author
Miller, Andrew H.
Venue
Brain, Behavior, and Immunity
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2009-02
Volume
23
Issue
2
Pages
149-158
ISSN
0889-1591 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W1992265643
Cited by
261
References
131
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 20 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 18 · 2013: 27 · 2012: 17
FWCI
4.68
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Brain Behavior and Immunity (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (5u19mh069056-10, UL1TR000454)
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (R01HL073921, HL 073921)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (MH 067990, U19-MH069056, R01MH083746, P50MH058922, MH58922, R01MH067990, MH 075102, MH069124, MH 020018, R01MH060723, MH069056, R01MH075102, T32MH020018, R01MH070553, K05MH069124, MH 070553)
  • National Center for Research Resources (M01-RR00039, UL1RR025008, M01RR000039)
  • National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Biological Psychiatry › Tryptophan and brain disorders
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Treatment of Major Depression
Keywords
cytokines, interferon-alpha, depression, serotonin metabolism, serotonin reuptake inhibitors, indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, p38 MAPK, dopamine depletion, homovanillic acid, basal ganglia, psychomotor retardation, fatigue, dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, anxiety, innate immune response, rhesus monkeys, psychoneuroimmunology
MeSH terms
Animals, Anxiety, Behavior, Depression, Dopamine, Homovanillic Acid, Humans, Serotonin, Cytokines, Interferon-alpha, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases, Indoleamine-Pyrrole 2,3,-Dioxygenase

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