Interleukin-1 beta production in dysthymia before and after pharmacotherapy.
BACKGROUND
Like major depression, dysthymia has been associated with elevated production of interleukin-1 (IL-1 beta) in mitogen-stimulated lymphocytes. In the present investigation, we assessed whether the elevated IL-1 beta production in dysthymic patients would normalize following treatment with sertraline.


METHODS
The production of IL-1 beta was determined in dysthymic patients and in nondepressed control subjects. Patients then received 12 weeks of doses of either sertraline or placebo in a double-blind trial, after which cytokine production was again determined.


RESULTS
Basal IL-1 beta was elevated in dysthymic patients relative to control subjects. Cytokine production was modestly correlated with the severity of symptoms and with the age of illness onset. Relative to placebo treatment, sertraline attenuated the symptoms of depression; however, this was not accompanied by normalization of IL-1 beta production.


CONCLUSIONS
While dysthymia is associated with elevated IL-1 beta production, the failure for the cytokine to normalize following symptom alleviation suggests that either the IL-1 beta may be a trait marker of the illness, or that more sustained treatment is necessary to reduce cytokine production. Given the neuroendocrine and central neurochemical consequences of exogenously administered IL-1 beta, the possibility ought to be explored that increased IL-1 beta production may play a role in the pathophysiology of dysthymia.
Anisman
H
H
Institute of Neuroscience, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Ravindran
A V
AV
Griffiths
J
J
Merali
Z
Z
D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D019263:Dysthymic Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020280:Sertraline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D007375:Interleukin-1; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D020280:Sertraline