Activation of the HMGB1/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3)/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) p65 axis in microglia located in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) facilitates microglial activation and autophagy, contributing to the pathophysiology and progression of depression (Xu et al., 2023). This evidence concerns the gene STAT3 and depressive symptom measurement.