High-salt diet drives depression-like behavior in mice by inducing IL-17A production

Abstract

Major depression disorder is a common illness that severely limits psychosocial functioning, affects outcomes of other diseases, and diminishes the quality of life. High-salt diet (HSD) has long been closely associated with the occurrence and development of depression, but whether or how HSD causes depression remains unclear. In this study, HSD induces depression-like behavior in mice accompanied by an increase in IL-17A production. RORγt deficiency abolishes HSD-induced depression-like behavior in mice. Furthermore, γδT17 cells are identified as an important cellular source of IL-17A in mice with HSD-induced depression. Depletion of γδT cells using anti-TCRγδ antibody markedly alleviates depression-like behavior in mice with HSD. Our findings demonstrate that increased dietary salt intake facilitates the development of depression at least partially through the induction of γδT17 cells.