Low natural killer cytotoxicity in major depression.
Natural killer cell cytotoxicity was significantly lower in a group of hospitalized depressed men than in matched controls. The absolute number of neutrophils was increased in the depressed group, but the numbers of other cell types did not differ between groups. These findings further demonstrate that altered immunity is a biologic concomitant of affective disorders.
Irwin
M
M
Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine, La Jolla.
Smith
T L
TL
Gillin
J C
JC
D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000473:pathology