biostudies-literaturePeng ZScientific Research Foundation of Hunan Provincial Education DepartmentNational Natural Science Foundation of ChinaNatural Science Foundation of Hunan Province186https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9281140biostudies-literatureUnknown19(1)<h4>Background</h4>Depression is a recurrent and devastating mental disease that is highly prevalent worldwide. Prolonged exposure to stressful events or a stressful environment is detrimental to mental health. In recent years, an inflammatory hypothesis has been implicated in the pathogenesis of stress-induced depression. However, less attention has been given to the initial phases, when a series of stress reactions and immune responses are initiated. Peripheral CD4⁺ T cells have been reported as the major contributors to the occurrence of mental disorders. Chronic stress exposure-evoked release of cytokines can promote the differentiation of peripheral CD4⁺ cells into various phenotypes. Among them, Th17 cells have attracted much attention due to their high pathogenJournal of neuroinflammationChronic stress-induced depression requires the recruitment of peripheral Th17 cells into the brain.PMC928114019B422821714932021JJ30504Yuan TZhao BPeng STuo QLiao DLin KShi ZPeng ZWei LfalseChronic stress-induced depression requires the recruitment of peripheral Th17 cells into the brain.<h4>Background</h4>Depression is a recurrent and devastating mental disease that is highly prevalent worldwide. Prolonged exposure to stressful events or a stressful environment is detrimental to mental health. In recent years, an inflammatory hypothesis has been implicated in the pathogenesis of stress-induced depression. However, less attention has been given to the initial phases, when a series of stress reactions and immune responses are initiated. Peripheral CD4⁺ T cells have been reported as the major contributors to the occurrence of mental disorders. Chronic stress exposure-evoked release of cytokines can promote the differentiation of peripheral CD4⁺ cells into various phenotypes. Among them, Th17 cells have attracted much attention due to their high pathogen2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Jul2025-04-22T06:07:49.755Z2022-07-19T08:13:11.404ZS-EPMC92811403583618210.1186/s12974-022-02543-6