title: PHA-stimulated cellular immune function and T-lymphocyte subsets in major depressive disorders.
abstract: We measured some immunological parameters in 20 hospitalized patients with major depression and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Both enumeration of immune cells, including T-lymphocyte subpopulations, and assay of T-cell function were studied. White blood cells were evaluated with an automated cell counter, T-cell subsets with an immunobead technique, and T-cell function with a phytohemagglutinin-induced proliferation in vitro assay. We found that T-lymphocyte responses to the mitogen were significantly lower in depressed patients than in controls. All the other parameters were normal. These findings suggest that functional but not numerical changes in T-lymphocytes characterize major depressive disorders.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Chemistry, IRCCS, C. Mondino Foundation, Univesity of Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Anesi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Franciotta
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Di Paolo
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zardini
authors.forename: G V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Melzi d'Eril
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zerbi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000276:immunology*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008934:Mitogens / Q000276:immunology; D015213:Neuroimmunomodulation; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000276:immunology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016827:CD8 Antigens; D008934:Mitogens; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins