title: Normal lymphocyte responsiveness to lectins but impaired sensitivity to in vitro glucocorticoids in major depression.
abstract: The mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferative response and its sensitivity to in vitro (10(-10)-10(-6) M) dexamethasone (DEX) administration were investigated in 12 severely depressed patients and 13 healthy controls. Patients with major depressive disorder exhibited no impairment of lectin-induced blastogenesis, but a significantly weaker suppressive effect of in vitro DEX on 1.0 microgram/ml phytohemagglutinin A-induced proliferation. The inhibitory potency of in vitro DEX was inversely correlated with in vivo adrenal cortical hormone levels at 4.00 p.m. These effects were not observed with pokeweed mitogen- and concanavalin A-stimulated cells. There were no correlations with age, weight, sex or severity of depression. These results do not support the hypothesis of a primarily impaired cell-mediated immunity, but might be indicative of reduced glucocorticoid receptor sensitivity in major depressive disorder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Würzburg, F.R.G.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wodarz
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rupprecht
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kornhuber
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schmitz
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wild
authors.forename: H U
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Braner
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Riederer
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000276:immunology*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D003907:Dexamethasone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone