title: Is depression associated with immune activation?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Some research immunologists have suggested that major depression amd chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) are characterized by immune activation. To test this hypothesis, we compared immunological function in patients with major depression and in patients with CFS who developed major depression after the onset of CFS to that of sedentary healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects completed the Centers for Epidemiological Study-Depression (CES-D) questionnaire and allowed venisection. We performed flow cytometric analysis on 13 groups of white blood cells and used a reverse transcriptase PCR method to assay m-RNA of eight cytokines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CES-D scores were high in both patient groups and did not differ significantly. We found no evidence for immune activation in either patient group. Instead the data suggested immunological downregulation in depression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Not all the subjects in the two patient groups were off antidepressants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data indicate that immune activation is not necessary in depression--either alone or with CFS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, East Orange, Newark 07103, USA.
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Natelson
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Denny
authors.forename: X D
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: LaManca
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Ottenweller
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tiersky
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: DeLuca
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Gause
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000523:psychology; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D018127:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7 / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D016207:Cytokines; D018127:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7