While numerous studies have suggested the involvement of neurochemical and/or neuroendocrinological pathways in the development of IFN-α-induced depression (Schiepers et al., 2005; Reyes-Vazquez et al., 2012; Hoyo-Becerra et al., 2014), the underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms remained to be clarified. Here, IFNA1 is linked to depressive disorder.