High activity of acid sphingomyelinase in major depression.
Acid sphingomyelinase (A-SMase) and its reaction product ceramide may play a role in the pathophysiology of depressive disorders and in the therapeutic action of antidepressive drugs. In a prospective case-control study, A-SMase activity was measured in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 17 patients with a major depressive episode who were free of antidepressant drug therapy for at least 10 days and 8 healthy volunteers. In the patient group, A-SMase activity was correlated to the score (n=17, r=0.64, P=0.005). The patient group exhibited higher A-SMase activity compared to healthy volunteers (T=2.09, df=21.33, P<0.05). In addition, we demonstrate that the antidepressants imipramine and amitriptyline induce a long-term reduction of the activity of A-SMase in cultured cells.
Kornhuber
J
J
Department of Psychiatry, University of Erlangen, Germany.
Medlin
A
A
Bleich
S
S
Jendrossek
V
V
Henkel
A W
AW
Wiltfang
J
J
Gulbins
E
E
D000328:Adult; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000494:pharmacology; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002518:Ceramides / Q000378:metabolism; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology*; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D021962:Membrane Microdomains / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011940:Receptor Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013108:Sphingomyelin Phosphodiesterase / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D013109:Sphingomyelins / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000502:physiology*
D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D002518:Ceramides; D013109:Sphingomyelins; C112980:acid sphingomyelinase-1; D013108:Sphingomyelin Phosphodiesterase