The macrophage and neuropsychiatric disorders

The purpose of this review is to examine the-potential role of the macrophage in certain neuropsychiatric disorders, including dementia, delirium, schizophrenia, and depression. The authors review the English-language literature on this subject published during the last 20 years. There is support for the hypothesis that macrophages and their products play an integral role in the neurodevelopment and pathophysiology of various neuropsychiatric conditions. The macrophage responds to neuropeptide signal molecules that affect its behavior. At the same time it produces a multitude of cytokines that not only alter its own behavior and that of other immunocyte but also:affect central nervous system activity. The study of the interrelationship between neurologic and immune systems may help to illuminate the pathophysiologies of some neuropsychiatric syndromes and to offer new directions for potential anti-inflammatory treatments. Among the most important immunocyte to study in neuropsychoimmunology is the monocyte/macrophage, which crosses the blood-brain barrier and gives rise to brain microglia.