Inflammatory Biomarkers in Suicidal Behavior
Summary
Suicidal behaviour arises from a complex interplay of genetic, psychological and environmental factors, with growing evidence that immune-inflammatory processes play a key role in its pathophysiology. Individuals exhibiting suicidal ideation or non-fatal attempts frequently show elevated levels of peripheral inflammatory mediators, suggesting that a heightened immune response may contribute to acute risk. Pro-inflammatory cytokines can access the brain via humoral pathways or activate endothelial and glial cells, triggering neuroinflammatory cascades that alter neurotransmission, neuroplasticity and stress-response systems. Aberrant activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis and impaired feedback regulation further amplify inflammatory signalling, while disturbances in the gut–brain axis may perpetuate systemic immune dysregulation. The consistency of findings across diverse psychiatric diagnoses underlines the transdiagnostic nature of inflammation in suicidal behaviour. Clinically, inflammatory biomarkers offer a promising avenue for improving risk stratification, early intervention and personalised treatment, especially where conventional psychological assessments have limited predictive power. Future research aims to refine the specificity of these biomarkers, disentangle state from trait markers, and evaluate whether anti-inflammatory agents can reduce suicidal crises without compromising overall mental health care.
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Inflammatory Biomarkers in Suicidal Behavior publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in inflammatory biomarkers in suicidal behavior across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Cytokines: Small signalling proteins released by immune cells that regulate inflammation, cell proliferation and communication within the nervous system.
Acute-phase proteins: Plasma proteins, such as C-reactive protein, whose circulating concentrations change markedly in response to systemic inflammation.
Neuroinflammation: Inflammatory processes within the central nervous system, characterised by activation of glial cells and release of inflammatory mediators.
Biomarker: A measurable indicator of physiological or pathological processes, or responses to therapeutic interventions.
Blood–brain barrier: A selective endothelial interface that regulates the passage of molecules and cells between systemic circulation and brain tissue.
References
- Inflammatory pathology in depression and suicide: a mechanistic distillation of clinical correlates. Frontiers in Immunology (2024).
- Immune-related biomarkers and suicidal behaviors: A meta-analysis. European Neuropsychopharmacology (2023).
- Associations of three major physiological stress systems with suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in patients with a depressive and/or anxiety disorder. Brain Behavior and Immunity (2022).
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