title: Assessment of the immune system activity in Iranian patients with Major Depression Disorder (MDD).
abstract: Major Depression Disorder (MDD) is a common disorder with prevalence of 15% among men and up to 25% among women. In recent years the association of immune system alterations and MDD has been investigated. Assessments of immunologic and inflammatory responses in these patients enhance our knowledge of the etiology and pathogenesis of this disease.
  
  
  
  To investigate the changes in immunoglobulin and cytokine serum levels and lymphocyte subsets in patients with MDD.
  
  
  
  We studied 37 adult patients with MDD, diagnosed based on DSM-IV diagnostic criteria, and 15 healthy controls matched with the patients. Plasma concentration of interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-10, TNF alpha, and IFN gamma were measured by ELISA and serum immunoglobulins by SRID. Total number of NK cells (CD16 and CD56), B cells (CD19), and T cells (CD8, CD4, and CD3) were determined by flow cytometry.
  
  
  
  We found no significant differences in plasma concentration of IL-4, IL-10, TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, and immunoglobulins as well as total number of NK cells, B cells, and T cells between major depressed patients and healthy control subjects.
  
  
  
  We conclude that in our patients, there were no significant differences in immune system activity between MDD patients and controls.
authors.affiliation: Bu-Ali Immunology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. rfaridh@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Farid Hosseini
authors.forename: Farahzad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jabbari Azad
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Talaee
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miri
authors.forename: Naghme
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mokhber
authors.forename: Farhad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Farid Hosseini
authors.forename: Habibollah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Esmaeili
authors.forename: Mahmoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mahmoudi
authors.forename: Hoshang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rafatpanah
authors.forename: Mohammadreza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohammadi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000276:immunology*; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000097:blood; D007492:Iran; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007136:Immunoglobulins