title: A further exploration of the relationships between immune parameters and the HPA-axis activity in depressed patients.
abstract: In order to investigate the relationship between the immune apparatus and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis activity in depressed patients, we measured in vitro lymphocyte responses to the mitogens Phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), Pokeweed (PWM) and Concanavalin A (Con A) and 8 a.m. baseline cortisol values in plasma, free cortisol excretion in 24 h urine (UFC), basal and post-dexamethasone beta-endorphin values. Major depressed patients with melancholia/psychotic features exhibited a significantly lower mitogen-induced blast transformation as compared to minor and simple major depressed patients. The lymphocyte responses to the three mitogens were significantly inversely related to baseline cortisol values and postdexamethasone beta-endorphin values. The proliferative capacity of lymphocytes to stimulation with PHA and PWM was significantly and positively related to UFC excretion. Up to 45% of the variance in the immune-responses to the mitogens was explained by the baseline cortisol, post-dexamethasone beta-endorphin and UFC values.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatric Centre, Munsterbilizen, Belgium.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maes
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bosmans
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Suy
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Minner
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Raus
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D003907:Dexamethasone; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001615:beta-Endorphin; D003907:Dexamethasone; D006854:Hydrocortisone