The Antidepressant Mirtazapine Activates Hepatic Macrophages, Facilitating Pathogen Clearance While Limiting Tissue Damage in Mice.

Background And Aims: Mirtazapine is an atypical antidepressant with antagonist activity for serotonin and histamine receptors. Clinical and experimental evidence suggests that, in addition to treating depression, mirtazapine also alters liver innate immunity and suppresses immune-driven hepatic macrophage activation. Liver macrophages, Kupffer cells, represent the largest collection of fixed macrophages in the body and are critical in regulating hepatic immunity.