Lymphocyte subsets and lymphokine production in patients with melancholic versus nonmelancholic depression.
Several studies have reported immune changes during depression, but the results have not been fully consistent. Some of these changes could be related to the presence of melancholic features. A total of 42 depressed patients (melancholic [MEL] and nonmelancholic [non-MEL]) and 20 healthy controls participated in the study. We detected a higher CD4+ lymphocyte subset in MEL patients than in controls during the depressive state, which disappeared after clinical remission. We also found an increase in interleukin-2 (IL-2) production both in MEL and non-MEL patients, but these values did not differ from control values after clinical remission. Some of these changes may be related to the melancholic characteristics of depression.
Schlatter
Javier
J
University Clinic, Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, University of Navarra, 31080 Pamplona, Spain. schlatter@unav.es
Ortuño
Felipe
F
Cervera-Enguix
Salvador
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011598:Psychoneuroimmunology; D012016:Reference Values
D007376:Interleukin-2; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008222:Lymphokines; D015847:Interleukin-4