title: Soluble interleukin-2 receptor and tumor necrosis factor levels in depressed patients in Estonia.
abstract: Several studies have reported immune system alterations in depressed patients. Furthermore, correlations between some interleukins and specific depressive symptoms have been found, but results are ambiguous. It might be caused by heterogeneous patient population and concomitant administration of antidepressants. The aim of our study was to look at differences in the levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) between currently depressed patients with first or recurrent episode of depression, patients in full remission and healthy controls. Secondly, we looked for correlations between sIL-2R and TNFalpha and different depressive symptoms. A total of 75 medication-free currently depressed patients (76% of females), 17 patients in the full remission phase of major depression (58.8% of females), and 55 healthy controls (58.2% of females) participated in this study. The results showed that the level of sIL-2R was significantly lower in depressed patients in remission phase compared to the healthy controls and subjects with recurrent depression. Drug-naļve patients with major depressive disorder with recurrent episode had higher levels of sIL-2R than previously treated or patients with the first episode. TNFalpha levels were higher in drug-naļve patients with major depressive disorder with recurrent episode compared with previously treated patients. Further analysis of patients revealed that sIL-2R was positively correlated with decreased activity and agitation. TNFalpha was associated with decreased activity and suicidality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Tartu, Raja 31, 50417 Tartu, Estonia. triin.eller@kliinikum.ee
authors.forename: Triin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Eller
authors.forename: Anu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aluoja
authors.forename: Eduard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maron
authors.forename: Veiko
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vasar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood; D004957:Estonia; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood*; D012008:Recurrence; D012074:Remission Induction; D012907:Smoking; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha