Soluble cell adhesion molecules in late-life depression.
BACKGROUND
Late-life depression has been associated with vascular diseases and with increases in circulating cytokines and cell adhesion molecules in the prefrontal cortex. We hypothesized that soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) would be increased in late-life major depression.


METHODS
Serum levels of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 were measured in subjects over 60 with major depression (N = 23), subsyndromal depression (N = 20) and controls (N = 25). Depression severity was assessed using the Montgomery-Asberg (MDRS) and Geriatric Depression (GDS) rating scales.


RESULTS
There was no significant increase in sICAM-1 (p = 0.240) or sVCAM-1 (p = 0.600) in depression nor was there any correlation of either molecule with depression severity. Adjusting for differences in cognitive impairment did not alter these findings. There was also no difference between subjects with an early onset of depression (before 60) and those with late-onset depression.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings do not provide evidence that previously reported increases in serum cytokines in depression are due to peripheral vascular disease. Although we assessed subjects for vascular diseases it is possible that subtle but important differences between groups may still have been present and may have contributed to our negative findings. Our results suggest central nervous system mechanisms, such as related to HPA axis activation, may be responsible for the enhanced inflammatory response in depression.
Thomas
Alan J
AJ
School of Neurology, Neurobiology and Psychiatry, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K. a.j.thomas@ncl.ac.uk
Morris
Christopher
C
Davis
Sue
S
Jackson
Elizabeth
E
Harrison
Richard
R
O'Brien
John T
JT
D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000097:blood*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology
D015415:Biomarkers; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D016207:Cytokines; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1