Neuro-immunological hypothesis of psychiatric diseases via microglia

DOI
  • Kato Takahiro
    Innovation Center for Medical Redox Navigation, Kyushu University : Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University

Bibliographic Information

Other Title
  • 精神疾患におけるミクログリアを介した神経免疫仮説

Search this article

Description

Microglia, major sources of free radicals and inflammatory cytokines, play crucial roles in brain homeostasis and various brain pathologies such as neurodegenerative diseases and neuropathic pain. Recent postmortem and imaging studies have indicated microglial activation in the brain of schizophrenic patients and patients who committed suicide. We have recently demonstrated that some kinds of antipsychotics and antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors(SSRIs)significantly inhibit the release of nitric oxide and proinflammatory cytokines from activated microglia in vitro. Based on these results, we put forward a novel neuro-immunological hypothesis of psychiatric diseases via microglia. Microglia may play an important role in various psychiatric diseases by modulating inflammatory/immunological environments through moving around dynamically and releasing chemical mediators in the CNS. Our hypothesis shed new light on a novel therapeutic strategy for psychiatric diseases. Furthermore, microglia might be a key player in human mental activities, especially 'unconscious drives', from the standpoint of psychodynamic psychiatry. Microglia research has the potential to bridge the huge gap between biological psychiatry and psychoanalysis.

Journal

Keywords

Details 詳細情報について

  • CRID
    1390001205412208768
  • NII Article ID
    130005395340
  • DOI
    10.11249/jsbpjjpp.21.4_229
  • ISSN
    21866465
    21866619
  • Text Lang
    ja
  • Data Source
    • JaLC
    • CiNii Articles
  • Abstract License Flag
    Disallowed

Report a problem

Back to top