title: T-helper 1/T-helper 2 cytokine imbalance and clinical phenotypes of acute-phase major depression.
abstract: Several studies have discussed the relationships between T-helper 1 (Th1) or Th2 cytokines and major depression. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationships between Th1/Th2 cytokine balance and clinical phenotypes of acute-phase major depression. A total of 82 subjects including 42 patients with major depressive disorder and 40 healthy controls were recruited. Serum cytokine levels of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and IL-10 were examined. Using ancova with age and body mass index (BMI) adjustments, there were no significant differences in serum IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, and IL-10 levels between patients with major depressive disorder and healthy controls. However, using ANCOVA with BMI adjustment only, the results showed that patients with major depressive disorder had significantly higher TNF-alpha levels than control subjects. In addition, using ANCOVA with age and BMI adjustments, significantly higher serum IL-1beta level and IL-1beta/IL-10 ratio were noted in patients with melancholic features than patients with non-melancholic features. However, there were no significant differences in serum IL-1beta, TNF-alpha and IL-10 levels between patients with and without suicide attempt. In conclusion, serum TNF-alpha, IL-1beta level and IL-1beta/IL-10 ratio might play an important role in the psychopathology of acute-phase major depressive disorder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical Center, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. a540520@adm.cgmh.org.tw
authors.forename: Tiao-Lai
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Chien-Te
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013624:Taiwan; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10