Mounting evidence highlights the involvement of inflammatory/immune systems and their relationships with neurotransmitters and different metabolic processes in mood disorders. Nevertheless, there is a general agreement that available findings are still inconclusive. Therefore, further investigations are required, aimed at deepening the role of possible alterations of biomarkers in the pathophysiology of mood disorders that might lead to more focused and tailored treatments. The present study is a comprehensive review on these topics that seem to represent intriguing avenues for the development of real innovative therapeutic strategies of mood disorders.
Keywords: hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis; immune system; mood disorders; neuro-inflammation; neurotransmitters/neuroreceptors; neurotrophins; oxidative stress; serotonin; uric acid.