title: alpha1-acid glycoprotein in late-life depression: relationship to medical burden and genetics.
abstract: Serum alphal-acid glycoprotein (AAG) concentrations were examined in relationship to age, medical burden, depression, and mental status in elderly control (n = 19, mean age = 72.1 +/- 6.8 years) and depressed (n = 58, mean age = 71.9 +/- 7.1 years) subjects. DNA was analyzed for allelic variants of the AGP1 (ORM1) gene in both groups. Depressed subjects' AAG serum levels were measured at baseline and after 6 weeks of antidepressant treatment. Before treatment, depressed subjects had significantly higher serum AAG concentrations than nondepressed controls (t49.2 = -3.48, P = .0011). Pretreatment AAG levels also correlated with degree of medical burden, measured by the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale-Geriatrics (r = 0.28, P = .0303), but not with age, depression severity, or cognitive scores. There was no significant difference between responders and nonresponders on changes in AAG levels from baseline to week 6. Frequency differences in ORM1 allelic variants apparently did not influence increased AAG concentrations in depressed patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: Opeolu M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Adeoye
authors.forename: Robert E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Ferrell
authors.forename: Margaret A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kirshner
authors.forename: Benoit H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Mulsant
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Seligman
authors.forename: Amy E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Begley
authors.forename: Charles F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.forename: Bruce G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Pollock
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000483:Alleles; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009661:Nortriptyline / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009961:Orosomucoid / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D017374:Paroxetine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D009961:Orosomucoid; D017374:Paroxetine; D009661:Nortriptyline