title: Increased CD56+ natural killer cells and related cytokines in major depression.
abstract: Twenty-seven inpatients with major depression were examined four times within 6 weeks to assess CD56+ natural killer (NK) cell counts by flow cytometry and to assess the related lymphokines interleukin-2 and interferon-gamma in a whole blood assay after mitogen stimulation with phytohemagglutinin (PHA). The patient showed significantly higher counts of the fraction of 56+ NK cells and a greater lymphokine response to PHA than the controls. A significant correlation between lymphokine secretion and CD56+ cell counts was detected in the patients' acute clinical stage, but not in healthy controls or in patients after clinical improvement.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, University of Lübeck School of Medicine, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Seidel
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Arolt
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hunstiger
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rink
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Behnisch
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kirchner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019002:CD56 Antigen / Q000032:analysis*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D019002:CD56 Antigen; D007376:Interleukin-2; D007371:Interferon-gamma