Normal lymphocyte responsiveness to lectins but impaired sensitivity to in vitro glucocorticoids in major depression.
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.
Wodarz
N
N
Department of Psychiatry, University of Würzburg, F.R.G.
Rupprecht
R
R
Kornhuber
J
J
Schmitz
B
B
Wild
K
K
Braner
H U
HU
Riederer
P
P
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*
D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D003907:Dexamethasone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone