Research Progress on Inflammation and Immune Dysregulation in PTSD

Abstract

Introduction: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a severe psychological condition triggered by traumatic events, commonly characterized by symptoms such as re-experiencing traumatic memories, avoidance, hyperarousal, and disturbances in cognition and emotions. While PTSD is often viewed through a psychological lens, increasing evidence highlights its strong association with immune system dysfunction and inflammation. This narrative review summarizes recent research progress on the role of inflammation and immune dysregulation in PTSD, highlighting key findings and their implications for understanding the pathophysiology of the disorder.

Methods: We conducted a search in the PubMed and Web of Science databases using the keywords "PTSD" and "related inflammatory markers" and discussed the existing literature on the relationship between PTSD and inflammatory responses.

Results: The research indicates that PTSD is marked by significant imbalances in pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines across various biological fluids, including blood, saliva, and cerebrospinal fluid. Abnormal immune cell activation and elevated levels of soluble adhesion molecules, chemokines, and markers of inflammation were frequently observed in PTSD patients. These inflammatory responses are accompanied by aberrant activity in central immune cells, suggesting that inflammation may play a key role in the pathogenesis of PTSD. In addition, neuroinflammatory processes were linked to cognitive and emotional disturbances commonly seen in individuals with PTSD.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that immune system dysfunction and inflammation are integral components of PTSD pathology. Understanding the mechanisms of neuroinflammation and immune dysregulation could facilitate the early identification of individuals at high risk for PTSD and pave the way for inflammation-targeted therapies. Future research should focus on developing novel anti-inflammatory interventions to complement existing therapeutic approaches, potentially offering new avenues for precision treatment strategies for PTSD.

Keywords: immune cells; immune genes; inflammatory cytokines; pathological mechanisms; post‐traumatic stress disorder.

FIGURE 1

The immune cells and cytokines associated with PTSD.