title: A significantly increased number and percentage of B cells in depressed subjects: results of flow cytometric measurements.
abstract: Recently, there have been some reports that depression may be accompanied by indices of polyclonal B cell proliferation. In order to examine whether depression is characterized by an altered B cell subset profile we determined the number and percentage of the following B cells: HLADR+, CD19+, CD20+, and CD21+. We found a significantly increased number of HLADR+ and CD19+ B cells in depressed subjects compared with normal controls. Depressed patients exhibited a significantly higher percentage of HLADR+ and CD21+ B cells than normal controls. The number of CD21+ cells and the percentage of CD19+ cells were higher in melancholics than in normal controls. The increase in the number of the various B cells was highly sensitive (63%) and specific (94%) for melancholia. Our results may indicate B cell proliferation in depression, and particularly in melancholia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maes
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: DeClerck
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Bridts
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Peeters
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schotte
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cosyns
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens