Examining the role of neuroinflammation in major depression

Recent findings have established a connection between inflammation and major depression and specifically the role of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in depression. This article reviews clinical and experimental studies examining the role of the HPA axis, HPA hyperactivity (resulting in increased cortisol levels), as well as the proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor, C-reactive protein, and the interleukins, in depressed...