OBJECTIVE: Emerging research has implicated immune factors in the pathogenesis of a variety of neuropsychiatric disorders. The objective of the present paper is to review the studies that investigated the association between bipolar disorder and immune parameters. METHODS: Papers that included the keywords "bipolar to disorder", "mania", "immunology", "cytokines", "chemokines", "interleukins", "interferon" and "tumor necrosis factor" were selected in a systematic review of the literature. The evaluated databases were MedLine and Scopus in the period between 1980 and 2008. RESULTS: Twenty eight works were found. Six studies investigated immune response-related genes; five, auto-antibodies; four, leukocyte population; 13, cytokines and/or immune-related molecules; six, leukocytes in vitro. CONCLUSIONS: Although there is evidence in the literature correlating affective disorders with immune parameters, the results are still inconclusive. Bipolar disorder seems to be associated with increased levels of auto-antibodies as well as with a trend for increased immune activation with production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and reduction of the anti-inflammatory parameters.
Bipolar disorder; immunology; cytokines; chemokines; interleukins; interferon and tumor necrosis factor-a
