IL-6 levels decrease with SSRI treatment in patients with major depression.
OBJECTIVE
Some evidence indicates that an immune response with an increased production of proinflammatory cytokines often accompanies major depression. The objective of this study was to examine the serum levels of IL-6 in patients with major depression and the changes occurring in IL-6 levels during treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI).


METHODS
Twenty-three patients with a DSM-IV diagnosis of major depressive disorder and 23 healthy matched controls were included in the study. The severity of depression was measured with the Hamilton rating scale for depression. Blood samples for IL-6 levels were obtained at baseline and at week 6 of treatment and IL-6 concentrations were evaluated using a solid phase sandwich enzyme immunoassay. All patients were treated with an SSRI.


RESULTS
The IL-6 levels showed no statistically significant difference between the patients and the controls at baseline. However, IL-6 levels after treatment with SSRIs were significantly lower compared with the baseline IL-6 levels of both the patients and the controls.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study suggest that proinflammatory cytokines show some changes during the course of treatment of major depression. These findings might also be considered as supporting the hypothesis of a modulatory role of antidepressants on the immune system.
Basterzi
Ayse Devrim
AD
Department of Psychiatry, Mersin University School of Medicine, Mersin, Turkey. adcingi@yahoo.com
Aydemir
Cigdem
C
Kisa
Cebrail
C
Aksaray
Sabahat
S
Tuzer
Verda
V
Yazici
Kemal
K
Göka
Erol
E
D000328:Adult; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D015850:Interleukin-6; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors