title: Immunoendocrine aspects of major depression. Relationships between plasma interleukin-6 and soluble interleukin-2 receptor, prolactin and cortisol.
abstract: Recently, a complete bidirectional circuit between the immune and neuroendocrine systems has been documented. Previous reports from this laboratory have shown that there are complex reciprocal relationships between immune and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis function in major depression. To further examine the immune-endocrine relationships, this study investigates plasma baseline cortisol and prolactin secretion in relation to plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6) and soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R) levels in 34 healthy controls and 56 major depressed patients. There were significant positive correlations between IL-6 or sIL-2R and plasma cortisol in major depressed subjects and in the combined group of major depressed and healthy subjects. There were also significant positive correlations between plasma prolactin and sIL-2R concentrations in major depressed subjects and in the combined groups of normal and major depressed subjects.
authors.affiliation: CRC-MH, Department of Psychiatry, AZ Stuivenberg, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maes
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bosmans
authors.forename: H Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Meltzer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D007107:Immune System / Q000502:physiology*; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000502:physiology*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D007378:Interleukins; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin; D011388:Prolactin; D006854:Hydrocortisone