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Home/Research/Ketamine/Immunology & Inflammation

Ketamine for Immunology & Inflammation

26 papers and 4 clinical trials exploring ketamine as a treatment for immunology & inflammation.

CompoundArylcyclohexylamine

Ketamine

A dissociative anesthetic with rapid-acting antidepressant properties, widely used in clinical settings for mood and pain disorders.

Full Ketamine profile
IndicationOver 264 million people worldwide suffer from depression, with a significant subset experiencing related inflammatory conditions.

Immunology & Inflammation

Recent research highlights the potential of psychedelics, particularly psilocybin and MDMA, in modulating immune responses and inflammation, shedding light on their therapeutic implications for mood disorders and other immune-related conditions. Studies are beginning to uncover the mechanisms through which these compounds exert anti-inflammatory effects and promote neuroplasticity, particularly in the context of major depressive disorder (MDD).

Full Immunology & Inflammation profile

Academic Research

26 papers
Open Accessindividual

Blood biomarker changes and relationships after low dose oral ketamine treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

This open-label trial (n=25) found that six weeks of low-dose oral ketamine treatment for PTSD was associated with small but significant decreases in both BDNF and VEGF-A blood biomarkers, which were positively correlated with each other, suggesting these two proteins may interact as part of the biological mechanism behind ketamine's effects on PTSD symptoms.

Published
March 16, 2026
Journal
Psychopharmacology
Authors
Quigley, B. L., Orr, E., Kafka, S., Hajishafiee, M., Bouças, A. P., Wellington, N., Dutton, M., Jones, M., Randall, F., Lagopoulos, J., Can, A. T., Hermens, D. F.
Open Accessindividual

Ketamine treatment effects on DNA methylation and Epigenetic Biomarkers of aging

This preprint open-label study (n=20) examines the effects of ketamine infusions (35mg/70kg, 6x) on biological ageing markers in individuals with depression (MDD) or PTSD. It finds reductions in epigenetic age as measured by OMICmAge, GrimAge V2, and PhenoAge biomarkers, as well as significant changes in Epigenetic Biomarker Proxies (EBPs) and surrogate protein markers following a 2-3 week treatment course. The study also reports expected decreases in depression and PTSD scores as measured by PHQ-9 and PCL-5.

Published
September 11, 2024
Journal
MedRvix
Authors
Dawson, K., May, A., Carangan, J. M., Klunder, J., Carreras-Gallo, N., Sehgal, R., Megilligan, S., Askins, B. C., Perkins, N., Mendez, T. L., Smith, R., Dawson, M., Mallin, M., Higgins-Chen, A. T., Dwaraka, V. B.
Open Accessindividual

Ketamine-assisted psychotherapy treatment of chronic pain and comorbid depression: a pilot study of two approaches

This observational pilot of ten people with chronic pain and comorbid major depressive disorder compared a high‑dose intramuscular "psychedelic" KAPT protocol with a low‑dose sublingual "psycholytic" protocol and found reductions in depression, pain, anxiety and PTSD symptoms overall, with larger and more consistent decreases in the psychedelic group though differences were not statistically significant given the small sample. The authors conclude KAPT may be beneficial for chronic pain/MDD comorbidity and recommend larger controlled trials to determine optimal dosing and administration.

Published
May 19, 2023
Journal
Frontiers in Pain Research
Authors
Batievsky, D., Weiner, M., Kaplan, S. B., Thase, M., Maglione, D. N., Vidot, D. C.
Paywallmeta

Biomarkers of ketamine's antidepressant effect: An umbrella review

This review (n=4,912) explores the evidence on blood-based and neuroimaging biomarkers underlying the antidepressant effects of ketamine. Ketamine can elicit an anti-inflammatorry effect, decrease at least one pro-inflammatory marker and data indicates the antidepressant effect is related to changes in synaptic plasticity and functional connectivity.

Published
February 1, 2023
Journal
Journal of Affective Disorders
Authors
Meshkat, S., Cao, B., Teopiz, K. M., Rosenblat, J. D., Rhee, T. G., Di Vincenzo, J. D., Ceban, F., Jawad, M. Y., Ho, R.
Paywallmeta

The effects of ketamine and classic hallucinogens on neurotrophic and inflammatory markers in unipolar treatment-resistant depression: a systematic review of clinical trials

This systematic review (2022, s=12) finds inconclusive results for the effects of psychedelics on several biomarkers (neurotrophic & inflammatory) in studies that used ayahuasca and ketamine in treating 'treatment-resistant' depression. Bigger trials are necessary, though studying the biomarkers per drug (not several together) may also be warranted.

Published
July 13, 2022
Journal
European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience
Authors
Rossi, G. N., Hallak, J. E., Baker, G., Dursun, S., Dos Santos, R. G., Aaru, J.
Paywallmeta

Blood-based biomarkers of antidepressant response to ketamine and esketamine: A systematic review and meta-analysis

This meta-analysis (n=2,801) explored the association between baseline levels and longitudinal changes in blood-based biomarkers, and response to ketamine/esketamine. Over 460 individual biomarkers were examined and there were no consistent associations between baseline levels of blood-based biomarkers, and response to ketamine. However, a longitudinal analysis revealed ketamine responders had statistically significant increases in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) when compared to pre-treatment.

Published
June 27, 2022
Journal
Molecular Psychiatry
Authors
Medeiros, G. C., Gould, T. D., Prueitt, W. L., Nanavati, J., Grunebaum, M. F., Farber, N. B., Singh, B., Selvaraj, S., Machado-Vieira, R., Achtyes, E. D., Parikh, S. V., Frye, M. A., Zarate, C. A., Goes, F. S.

Clinical Trials

4 trials
CompletedPhase IV

Oral Aspirin + Ketamine as Adjunct to Oral Antidepressant Therapy for Depression

Open-label, single-group proof-of-concept study (n=15 actual) assessing simultaneous administration of oral aspirin (486 mg) + oral ketamine (80 mg) as an adjunct to oral antidepressant therapy in outpatients with treatment-resistant depression.

Started
December 6, 2022
Type
interventional
Blinding
none
Randomized
No
Registry ID
NCT05615948
Unknown statusPhase II

Psilocybin Versus Ketamine in Treatment-Resistant Depression (PSIKET_001)

Randomised, quadruple-blind Phase II parallel RCT (n=60) comparing single-dose oral psilocybin (25 mg) vs oral ketamine (250 mg) vs midazolam (5 mg) for treatment-resistant depression; primary outcome MADRS at 24 hours.

Started
May 1, 2021
Type
interventional
Blinding
quadruple
Randomized
Yes
Registry ID
NCT05383313
CompletedPhase III

Clinical and neurobiological predictors of response to ketamine: towards personalized treatment of depression

Open-label Phase III single-arm study (n=40) evaluating neurobiological and clinical predictors of antidepressant response to a single ketamine infusion in patients with moderate–severe depression without psychotic symptoms.

Started
July 16, 2018
Type
interventional
Blinding
none
Randomized
No
Registry ID
2018-001539-39
CompletedPhase II

A Preliminary Study of Intravenous Ketamine in Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI)-Resistant Depression

This completed interventional, single-site Phase II study (n=20) evaluated intravenous ketamine given weekly for three weeks in patients with SSRI‑resistant depression.

Started
August 8, 2011
Type
interventional
Blinding
none
Randomized
No
Registry ID
2011-003654-40

Explore further

Search all Ketamine papers Search all Immunology & Inflammation trials Full Ketamine profile Full Immunology & Inflammation profile