BACKGROUND: Depressive behavior in animals is often associated with reduced levels of
brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and impaired neurogenesis in the hippocampus.
Recent studies showed that T cells recognizing central nervous system (CNS)-specific
antigens can regulate adult hippocampal neurogenesis and expression of BDNF. On the
basis of these findings, we hypothesized that controlling CNS specific immune activity by
immunization with a myelin-related peptide may have an antidepressant effect. METHODS …