[Highlights of peripheral biomarkers in major depressive disorder: focus on HPA-axis, inflammation and neurotrophic factors].

Abstract

Investigations intensively focus on peripheral biomarkers in major depressive disorder (MDD), however, an up-to-date amd specific tool is still not available. There is an increasing body of data in the literature concerning this issue and the majority of this confirms that most promising markers are related to the HPA axis, inflammation and neurotrophic factors. Results from the addressed area suggest that testing multiple markers together can provide a valuable outcome in concerning diagnosis, treatment selection and monitoring. Several influencing factors altering the levels of biomarkers as well as biologically inappropriate phenotypic measurements contribute to the numerous difficulties of precise evaluation and validation of biomarkers is. By correcting of these biases clinically applicable lab tests can be developed in the near future which will lead to significant improvement in the personalized therapy of MDD with more successful therapeutic outcomes and it will be an important tool in the pharmaceutical developments too.