The investigators found that rodents with increased propensity to show depression-like behaviors had elevated levels of circulating interleukin-6, suggesting that individual differences in the peripheral immune system contributes to vulnerability to developing depression.
To more directly investigate the role for immune responses in depression-like behaviors, the investigators used irradiation to lesion the immune system of mice. They then carried out bone marrow transplants to replace the immune system with one from mice that showed either high or low levels of interleukin-6 levels in response to stress. It was found that mice that received transplants from high-responding donors had increased expression of depression-like behaviors compared to those who received transplants from low-responding donors.
To more directly investigate the role for immune responses in depression-like behaviors, the investigators used irradiation to lesion the immune system of mice. They then carried out bone marrow transplants to replace the immune system with one from mice that showed either high or low levels of interleukin-6 levels in response to stress. It was found that mice that received transplants from high-responding donors had increased expression of depression-like behaviors compared to those who received transplants from low-responding donors.
No comments:
Post a Comment