title: Increased serum IL-6 and IL-1 receptor antagonist concentrations in major depression and treatment resistant depression.
abstract: There is now some evidence that major depression is accompanied by an immune response with an increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin 1(IL-1), IL-6 and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma). The aims of the present study were to examine serum IL-6, IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), IL-6R, Clara cell protein (CC16) and the soluble CD8 (sCD8) molecule in chronic, treatment resistant depression (TRD) both before and after subchronic treatment with antidepressants. Serum IL-6 and IL-1Ra were significantly higher in subjects with major depression and TRD than in normal controls. Subchronic treatment with antidepressants had no significant effects on serum IL-6, IL-1Ra, CC16 or sCD8, but reduced serum sIL-6R levels significantly. There were significant and positive correlations between serum IL-6, on the one hand, and sIL-6R, IL-1Ra, sCD8, number of peripheral blood leukocytes, neutrophils, CD2(+)T and CD19(+)B cells (all positive) and serum zinc (negative), on the other. These results suggest that: (1) major depression and TRD are accompanied by an activation of the monocytic arm of cell-mediated immunity; (2) the latter may be related to the immune an acute phase response in major depression; and (3) the above disorders may persist despite successful antidepressive treatment.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Center for Mental Health (CRC-MH), Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maes
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bosmans
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: De Jongh
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kenis
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vandoolaeghe
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Neels
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D004351:Drug Resistance; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010741:Phospholipases A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D017472:Receptors, Interleukin-1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D014598:Uteroglobin; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D015850:Interleukin-6; D011506:Proteins; D017472:Receptors, Interleukin-1; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6; C556389:SCGB1A1 protein, human; D014598:Uteroglobin; D010741:Phospholipases A; D015032:Zinc