MSP (Poland)

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and depression rank among the most common diseases in the general population. Recently, there has been a considerable amount of research on the inflammatory component of these diseases. The causal relationship responsible for such frequent comorbidity between them is not clear. Among the mechanisms associated with the development of depression, identified were the imbalance of the gut-brain axis, impaired microglia activity, increased levels of CRP (C reactive protein), IL-6 (Interleukine 6) and oxidative stress. CVD is associated with activation of the inflammasome NRLP-3 (NOD-like receptor protein 3), increased concentration of hs-CRP (highly sensitive C reactive protein) and interleukins IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, gut-brain axis dysfunction and oxidative stress. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between CVD and depression in the context of systemic inflammation and to review potential therapeutics, which might reduce or modulate inflammation that could potentially be used clinically to reduce cardiovascular risk among patients with depression.