Increased mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation in treatment resistant depression: a preliminary study.
BACKGROUND
The biological basis of treatment resistance in depression still remains unclear. Some studies suggest that there exists a relationship between a disturbance in the immune system and depression.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the immune status of patients with treatment resistant depression, we compared the in-vitro lymphocytic responses to three different mitogens in 10 drug-free patients with treatment resistant depression and 10 normal controls matched for age and sex.


RESULTS
We observed a marked increase in the lymphocyte mitogenic activity to mitogens of T lymphocytes.


CONCLUSIONS
This activation of lymphocyte function may be indicative of a pathological stimulation in cell-mediated immunity in patients with treatment resistant depression.
Kubera
Marta
M
Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Smêtna 12, 31-343 Kraków, Poland.
Basta-Kaim
Agnieszka
A
Wróbel
Andrzej
A
Maes
Michael
M
Dudek
Dominika
D
D000328:Adult; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D003863:Depression / Q000276:immunology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D012016:Reference Values; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*
D008934:Mitogens; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; C028784:phytohemagglutinin-P; D003208:Concanavalin A