Efeitos da ativação do sistema renina-angiotensina sobre os transtornos de ansiedade e depressão: esquemas e sugestões

Abstract

Anxiety disorders and depression (ADD) are mental health issues that affect millions of individuals worldwide and are associated, among another factors, with imbalances in various hormones and neurotransmitters such as Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin, Endorphins (DOSE system), and Cortisol. However, another hormone that plays an important role in ADD is angiotensin II (ANG II). ANG II is part of a hormone formation axis that is vital for the body's functions, known as the renin-angiotensin-system (RAS). The aim of this work was to develop different schemes about the main effects of the RAS on ADD. To this end, this work was based on integrative literature reviews for data collection, discussion, and the creation of schemes. The final scheme suggests that ADD increases ANG II (while ANG II also increases ADD), sympathetic activity, oxidative stress, inflammatory interleukins, and cortisol, while simultaneously decreasing the activity of anti-inflammatory pathways, leading to neuronal degeneration of the DOSE system, due to decreased nitric oxide and cellular nutrition. Additionally, we suggest that the increase in inflammatory pathways could lead to a disruption in food intake and impair sleep quality, thus exacerbating mental health problems.