title: Evaluation of immune parameters in depressed patients.
abstract: The association between depression and altered immunological activities has repeatedly been suggested, but experimental data show contradictory results. In this work, cellular and humoral immunological activities were evaluated in patients presenting major depression, unipolar subtype. Natural killer cell activity (NKCA) was significantly reduced in patients as compared to healthy controls (p < 0.001). However, lymphocyte mitogenic responses and immunoglobulin titers (IgG, IgM, and IgA) were similar for all samples. Hematological, hormonal, and nutritional variables presented normal values in patients and in controls. A familial history of depression was related to lower NKCA and higher phytohemagglutinin responses (p < 0.01). These data suggest possible differential inhibition of cellular immune responses in depressed patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, UFRGS, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Gauer
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Luz
authors.forename: R O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Silveira
authors.forename: N B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Nardi
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: von Mühlen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000917:Antibody Formation; D002455:Cell Division; D003863:Depression / Q000276:immunology*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000097:blood; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D009752:Nutritional Status
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D008934:Mitogens