The role of interleukins in obsessive-compulsive disorder: Pathophysiological insights and potential biomarkers

Abstract

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a long-term mental illness which is characterized by unwanted thoughts and repetitive compulsive behaviors that hampers our daily life. The previous analysis of OCD was focused on neurotransmitter dysregulation mainly within serotonergic and dopaminergic systems and results suggests that immune and inflammatory mechanisms are contributing to the disorder’s pathophysiology. The role of interleukins in OCD, tells about the primary involvement in neurobiological mechanisms and how they are becoming useful as biomarkers are mentioned in this literature review. Reports which are recently shows that changed levels of interleukins, including pro-inflammatory cytokines like IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-17, also anti-inflammatory cytokines like IL-10, probably affect neural signaling and immune responses in OCD patients. A neural pathway involved in the development of OCD behaviors and cytokines can affect neurotransmitter regulation, microglial activation, and synaptic communication within the cortico-striato thalamo cortical circuit. Inflammatory signaling is connected with damages in glutamatergic and dopaminergic neurotransmission and contributing to the hyperactivity of circuits and the mental rigidity seen in OCD. Reports which are recently shows that increasing of OCD is not only by neurotransmitter imbalance but also by neuroimmune interactions. Disease mechanisms and treatment resistance are interleukin-mediated inflammatory processes which provided important insights. The formulation of targeted therapeutic approach may changed cytokine profiles which likely serve as promising peripheral biomarkers for early detection and disease monitoring. Continued investigation of OCD enhanced understanding of its complex pathophysiology and facilitate new exploration.