Research Unveils Antidepressants' Role in Combating Infections and Sepsis
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Synopsis
Recent research indicates that antidepressants, typically used for mental health conditions, can also combat severe infections and sepsis. Scientists found that fluoxetine can protect tissues while eliminating pathogens, suggesting new therapeutic avenues for enhancing global health preparedness.
Key Takeaways
- Antidepressants may prevent severe infections.
- Fluoxetine has demonstrated antimicrobial properties.
- IL-10 levels increase with fluoxetine treatment.
- Study highlights new therapeutic potential.
- Research could enhance pandemic preparedness.
New Delhi, Feb 15 (NationPress) While antidepressants are widely recognized for treating mental health issues, emerging research reveals their capability to avert severe infections and perilous sepsis.
Researchers at the Salk Institute discovered that antidepressants can modulate the immune system and shield against infectious diseases. The results, published in the journal Science Advances, could pave the way for innovative life-saving therapies and bolster global readiness for impending pandemics.
The study highlighted that the antidepressant Prozac—known scientifically as fluoxetine—can safeguard tissues and organs while eliminating bacteria or viruses.
"It’s essentially functioning on both offense and defense, which is remarkable and particularly thrilling to observe in a drug that is already proven safe for human use," commented Professor Janelle Ayres from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
In their experiment, the team examined mice with bacterial infections, categorizing them into two groups: one receiving fluoxetine beforehand and the other not.
The results indicated that the mice treated with fluoxetine were shielded from sepsis, multi-organ damage, and mortality. Additional tests measured bacterial levels in both groups eight hours post-infection.
Fluoxetine treatment resulted in a reduced bacterial count, indicating a milder infection.
The research confirmed that fluoxetine possesses antimicrobial properties, enabling it to inhibit bacterial proliferation. Subsequently, the scientists assessed the levels of various inflammatory molecules within each group.
They observed elevated anti-inflammatory IL-10 in the pretreated group, concluding that IL-10 mitigated sepsis-induced hypertriglyceridemia—an ailment characterized by excessive fatty triglycerides in the bloodstream.
This allowed the heart to sustain its metabolic balance, shielding the mice from infection-related morbidity and mortality.
The findings revealed that fluoxetine not only eradicates pathogens but also mitigates body damage induced by infections.
