title: Acute phase proteins in major depression.
abstract: Extensive evidence exists associating depression with changes in the immune system. The present study evaluates the levels of complement components C3 and C4, C-reactive proteins, and IL-6 in patients who met DSM-III-R diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder, as well as controls. Whereas no significant differences between the mean levels of C3 could be detected between depressed patients and controls, the levels of C4, IL-6 (where detected), and C-reactive protein were significantly raised in the group with a depressive disorder. Our study suggests an interaction between psychological state and immune systems operative in host defenses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, University of the Witwatersrand, Republic of South Africa.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berk
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Wadee
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Kuschke
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: O'Neill-Kerr
mesh_terms: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000378:metabolism; D003181:Complement C4 / Q000378:metabolism; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011598:Psychoneuroimmunology; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D003176:Complement C3; D003181:Complement C4; D015850:Interleukin-6; D002097:C-Reactive Protein