RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DEPRESSION AND INFLAMMATORY MARKERS

Abstract

Introduction: Depression is a psychiatric disorder characterized by sadness and hopelessness, as well as self-deprecation, loss of self and ego value, and possible suicidal ideation. The definition and characterization of the signs and symptoms of depression are well-known, but the pathophysiology and causes of this disease are still not fully understood. Objective: To correlate the presence of depression in patients with inflammatory diseases. Methodology: The methodology used for the development of this scientific article was based on a narrative review of literature where articles in Portuguese and English, published between 2017 and 2022, were selected. Results and Discussion: Some inflammatory markers, such as IL-6, IL-5, TNF- α, and CP, would be responsible for promoting a modification in the metabolic pathway of tryptophan, an important precursor of serotonin, altering its production and thus reducing its distribution, which would explain the mood changes found in depression. Another theory explains that in inflammatory processes,pro-inflammatory cytokines released would lead to an increase in the permeability of the blood-brain barrier, allowing their entry into the CNS, leading to a state of neuroinflammation with oxidative stress of the brain tissue, directly related to the pathophysiology of depression. Conclusion: After the analysis of the articles, it can be seen that there is a relationship between the variation of inflammatory biomarkers and depressive disorder that is not completely clarified in current literature.