Immune-brain plasticity underpins stress and affective behaviors.
Neuron January 7, 2026 Jinsu Lee, Michael A Wheeler
Chronic stress alters immune cell signaling in the brain, modifying neural circuits and behavior in ways relevant to mood disorders. This perspective synthesizes animal studies to outline how neuroimmune interactions—molecular communication between immune and brain cells—regulate brain plasticity and vulnerability to major depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. The authors describe cellular and molecular mechanisms governing immune-brain plasticity across cell types and explore how anti-inflammatory biologics and psychedelics might target these pathways. They argue that understanding these interactions could inform next-generation treatments for mood disorders.