Brain Behav Immun. 2024 Jun 11:S0889-1591(24)00451-3. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2024.06.011. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Persistent physical and psychological stress are key factors in the development of depression. Stress exposure leads to the activation of neutrophils in the bloodstream. However, the role of peripheral neutrophils in stress-related disorders remains unclear. Here, we found that psychological stress caused an increase in the frequency of brain-associated neutrophils and upregulated expression of neutrophil-specific surface molecule CD177 on peripheral neutrophils in male mice. Upregulated levels of blood CD177 are associated with depression in humans. Neutrophil depletion or Cd177 deficiency protected mice from stress-induced behavioral deficits. Importantly, adoptive transfer of stressed CD177+ neutrophils increased the frequency of brain-associated leukocytes, including neutrophils, and caused behavioral defects in naive mice. These effects may be related to the endothelial adhesion advantage of CD177+ neutrophils and the interference of serine protease on endothelial junction. Our findings suggest a critical link between circulating CD177+ neutrophils and psychological stress-driven behavioral disorder.
PMID:38871062 | DOI:10.1016/j.bbi.2024.06.011
