Immune disturbances during major depression: upregulated expression of interleukin-2 receptors.
We determined the following immune parameters in drug-free, major depressed patients and in age- and sex-matched healthy controls: the number and percentage of interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) bearing cells (CD25+, anti-TAC), serum circulating levels of soluble (s)IL-2Rs, the pre- and postdexamethasone phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-induced accumulation of sIL-2Rs in culture supernatant, and the number of T helper (CD4+) and T suppressor (CD8+) cells. In comparison with normal volunteers, patients with major depression had a higher number and percentage of CD25+ cells, higher concentrations of serum circulating sIL-2Rs, higher supernatant sIL-2Rs after stimulation with PHA, and a higher number of CD4+ cells. The CD4+/CD8+ ratio and the number of CD4+ cells were significantly and positively related to the number of cells expressing the CD25+ antigen. These results may indicate that depressed patients display an increased number of T cells in an early phase of activation.
Maes
M
M
Psychiatric Center, St.-Jozef, Munsterbilzen, Belgium.
Bosmans
E
E
Suy
E
E
Vandervorst
C
C
De Jonckheere
C
C
Raus
J
J
D000328:Adult; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000523:psychology; D003907:Dexamethasone; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000235:genetics*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000235:genetics*
D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D003907:Dexamethasone