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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Postnatal Immune Activation: A Hidden Trigger for Mood Disorders?

  • Danping Shen1,2
  • Guanhong Ji1,2
  • Xinyi Sun1,2
  • Shubei Ma1
  • Tiantian Zhao1,2
  1. 1Department of Neurology, Central hospital of Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116033, China
  2. 2School of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
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Abstract

Postnatal immune activation (PIA) is linked to persistent CNS homeostatic imbalance, which may contribute to the emergence of neuropsychiatric disorders such as depression and cognitive impairment. This process involves multiple pathological changes such as abnormal activation of central glial cells, neuroimmune disorders, and abnormal neural development during the embryonic period and the early postnatal period. Currently, the specific molecular mechanism by which PIA leads to the occurrence of emotional disorders is still not fully understood. This review summarizes evidence from animal models linking early postnatal immune challenges with later cognitive, anxiety-like, depression-like, and social outcomes, and systematically elaborates on the regulatory role of PIA in the occurrence and development of emotional disorders, aiming to deeply analyze its potential pathological mechanism and provide a basis for early prevention and targeted intervention in mental diseases such as depression and anxiety.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{shen2026postnatal,
  title = {{Postnatal Immune Activation: A Hidden Trigger for Mood Disorders?}},
  author = {Danping Shen and Guanhong Ji and Xinyi Sun and Shubei Ma and Tiantian Zhao},
  journal = {International Journal of Molecular Sciences},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3390/ijms27219757},
  url = {https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/21/9757},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Postnatal Immune Activation: A Hidden Trigger for Mood Disorders?
AU  - Danping Shen
AU  - Guanhong Ji
AU  - Xinyi Sun
AU  - Shubei Ma
AU  - Tiantian Zhao
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/30
JO  - International Journal of Molecular Sciences
DO  - 10.3390/ijms27219757
UR  - https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/21/9757
AB  - Postnatal immune activation (PIA) is linked to persistent CNS homeostatic imbalance, which may contribute to the emergence of neuropsychiatric disorders such as depression and cognitive impairment. This process involves multiple pathological changes such as abnormal activation of central glial cells, neuroimmune disorders, and abnormal neural development during the embryonic period and the early postnatal period. Currently, the specific molecular mechanism by which PIA leads to the occurrence of emotional disorders is still not fully understood. This review summarizes evidence from animal models linking early postnatal immune challenges with later cognitive, anxiety-like, depression-like, and social outcomes, and systematically elaborates on the regulatory role of PIA in the occurrence and development of emotional disorders, aiming to deeply analyze its potential pathological mechanism and provide a basis for early prevention and targeted intervention in mental diseases such as depression and anxiety.
SN  - 1422-0067
ER  -