Abstract
Depression is currently one of the most common psychiatric disorders and the number of patients receiving antidepressant treatment is increasing every year. Therefore, it is essential to understand the underlying mechanisms that are associated with higher prevalence of depression. The main component leading to the change in functioning, in the form of apathy, anhedonia, lack of motivation and sleep disturbances, is stress. This is the factor that in recent decades—due to the civilization speed, dynamic technological development as well as competitiveness and competition in relationships—significantly affects the psychophysical condition, which results in an increase in the prevalence of civilization diseases, including depression. To understand the mechanism of susceptibility to this disease, one should consider the significant role of the interaction between immune and nervous systems. Their joint development from the moment of conception is a matrix of later predispositions, both associated with the mobilization of the proinflammatory pathways (TNFα, IL-1β, IL-6) and associated with psychological coping with stress. Such an early development period is associated with epigenetic processes that are strongly marked in prenatal development up to 1 year of age and determinate the characteristic phenotype for various forms of pathology, including depression. Regarding the inflammatory hypothesis of depression, interleukin 17 (IL-17), among other proinflammatory cytokines, might play an important role in the development of depressive disorders. It is secreted by Th17 cells, crossed the placental barrier and acts on the brain structures of the fetus by increasing IL-17 receptor levels and affecting the intensity of its signaling in the brain.
Highlights
Depression is currently one of the most recognized disease entities in the world
Has an impact on the further formation of brain structures [2]. This influence, according to recent studies, is associated with epigenetic processes largely mediated by the immune system [3]
Interest and development of research related to the joint influence of the development of the immune and nervous system may be of significant importance in the prevention and treatment of depression, especially of the drugresistant nature
Summary
Depression is currently one of the most recognized disease entities in the world. Its prevalence is increasing every year and is a serious medical, social, and economic problem [1]. The characteristics of the stress response may vary, but it always has a specific purpose It should cause such changes in the functioning of the body that will allow adaptation to new environmental conditions and, as a result, regain balance. Immune changes caused by stress are initially beneficial because they allow the body to adapt to individual needs, but in the long run they can have a harmful effect and cause the development of diseases in adulthood [8, 9]. Allostasis, i.e. the ability to maintain the body’s balance by changing its functioning, in some cases helps to survive It happens, that in certain situations it leads to a reduction of physical and mental needs and, as a result, the development of a depressive state. An important element is the impact from the very conception of changes taking place in the body at very early stages of life, shaping a predisposition to an increased depressive reaction in the future
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