Investigation of circulating endothelial progenitor cells and angiogenic and inflammatory cytokines during recovery from an episode of major depression.
BACKGROUND
Epidemiological studies strongly suggest a bidirectional positive relationship between mood and cardiovascular disorders (CVD). Reduced numbers of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (cEPCs) are associated with elevated risks of CVD. Previously we demonstrated that patients with a current episode of major depression (MDE) have a decreased number of cEPCs. The role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) has been demonstrated in the etiopathogenesis of depression. In addition these cytokines are also involved in regulation of the vascular system. This suggests that VEGF and/or TNF may also mediate the elevated risk of CVD associated with mood disorders.


METHODS
In the current investigation, which has a self-controlled study design, we examined changes in VEGF and TNF levels and--for the first time--changes in cEPC number during recovery from MDE.


RESULTS
Twenty-four patients with MDE were enrolled. The severity of their depressive symptoms improved significantly during the one-month treatment period (~50% decrease in MADRS score; P≤0.001). We did not find significant differences between baseline and end-point levels of VEGF, TNF and the number of cEPCs.


CONCLUSIONS
Our negative result for alteration in the number of cEPCs in the course of recovery from MDE raises several questions. Before discarding the number of cEPCs as a possible marker of depression--and/or elevated CV risk associated with it--our results would require confirmation in larger samples. Our results for TNF and VEGF do not contradict the findings of prior studies, since these were controversial.
Department of Clinical and Theoretical Mental Health, Kutvolgyi Clinical Center, Semmelweis University, Faculty of Medicine, and 1st Department of Psychiatry, Nyiro Gyula Hospital, Budapest, Hungary. dome_peter@yahoo.co.uk
Peter
P
Dome
Zsuzsa
Z
Halmai
Judit
J
Dobos
Judit
J
Lazary
Xenia
X
Gonda
Istvan
I
Kenessey
Timea
T
Sallai
Zoltan
Z
Makkos
Gabor
G
Faludi
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000276:immunology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology
D015415:Biomarkers; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A