In addition, SSRIs and the serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor venlafaxine are anti-inflammatory as demonstrated by their ability to decrease proinflammatory cytokine expression in vitro (Liu et al. 2011; Tynan et al. 2012). The SSRIs paroxetine and sertraline inhibit nitric oxide and TNF-α expression in interferon-gamma-activated microglia in a calcium-dependent manner. In contrast to other antidepressants, the monoamine oxidase inhibitor phenelzine increases the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 in an NF-κB-dependent manner, indicating differential effects based on anti-depressant class (Chung et al. 2012). Interestingly, kinin B1 receptor antagonists, important modulators of microglial TNF-α, reduce depressive-like behaviours in mice (Viana et al. 2010).
