Major depression is associated with significant diurnal elevations in plasma interleukin-6 levels, a shift of its circadian rhythm, and loss of physiological complexity in its secretion: clinical implications.
BACKGROUND
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with increased risk for premature coronary heart disease and bone loss. Single time measurements of plasma IL-6, a good predictor of future risk for both cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis, revealed significant elevations in depressed patients. The objective of this study was to rigorously compare plasma IL-6 levels, measured over 24 h, in MDD patients and healthy controls. Given the activating role of IL-6 on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, and the relevance of its dysregulation in MDD, we also analyzed the relations between IL-6 and cortisol levels.


METHODS
We studied nine patients and nine controls, individually matched by gender, age (+/-5 yr), body mass index (+/-2 kg/m2), and menstrual cycle phase. Diagnosis of MDD was confirmed by structured clinical interview based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Axis I diagnostic criteria. Self-reported mood ratings were assessed by multiple visual analog scales. The rhythmicity and complexity of IL-6 and cortisol secretion were tested by cosinor analyses, approximate entropy (ApEn) and cross-ApEn algorithms.


RESULTS
MDD patients had significant mean IL-6 elevations from 1000-1200 h and at 1500 h (P ranging from <0.05 to <0.01) vs. controls. In addition, in MDD, the circadian rhythm of IL-6 was shifted by 12 h, and its physiological complexity was reduced, with no difference in the cross-ApEn of IL-6 and cortisol between the two groups, and significant time-lagged correlations only in the controls. IL-6 levels correlated significantly with mood ratings.


CONCLUSIONS
We report profound morning elevations of plasma IL-6 and a reversal of its circadian rhythm in MDD patients, in the absence of hypercortisolism. These findings may be relevant to the increased risk for coronary heart disease and bone loss in MDD.
Alesci
Salvatore
S
Clinical Neuroendocrinology Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, 10 Center Drive, Building 10, Room 2D46, MSC 1284, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-1284, USA. alescisa@mail.nih.gov
Martinez
Pedro E
PE
Kelkar
Sujata
S
Ilias
Ioannis
I
Ronsaville
Donna S
DS
Listwak
Samuel J
SJ
Ayala
Alejandro R
AR
Licinio
Julio
J
Gold
Herman K
HK
Kling
Mitchel A
MA
Chrousos
George P
GP
Gold
Philip W
PW
D000328:Adult; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement
D015850:Interleukin-6; D006854:Hydrocortisone