Venlafaxine inhibits the upregulation of plasma tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in the Chinese patients with major depressive disorder: a prospective longitudinal study.
Although tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) has been recognized to be involved in the pathogenesis of major depressive disorder (MDD) for a long time, only few studies so far investigated the effects of antidepressant, venlafaxine on TNF-α and the results are inconsistent. Moreover, the association between plasma TNF-α levels and suicide accompanied with MDD is entirely unknown. To elucidate these relationships, in the present study, 64 first-episode drug-naïve MDD patients and 64 matched healthy controls were recruited. Total 61 MDD patients received 8-week venlafaxine treatment and they were divided into responders and non-responders according to the reduction rate of HRSD-17. Prior to venlafaxine treatment, both responders and non-responders shared a similar plasma TNF-α (p=0.33), which was significantly decreased following venlafaxine treatment (p<0.001, p=0.03, respectively). Compared to non-responders, the responder group had a greater reduction in TNF-α (p=0.01), which was associated with the greater reduction rate of HRSD-17 (B=1.02, p=0.01). In addition, the plasma TNF-α levels were equally higher in both suicidal and non-suicidal MDD patients (p=0.84) compared to the healthy controls on admission (p=0.001, p=0.03, respectively). Together, our data suggest that MDD per se rather than suicide is associated with the elevated plasma TNF-α, which can be inhibited with venlfaxine monotherapy. The extent of TNF-α reduction may be associated with the efficiency of venlafaxine.
Division of Mood Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Zezhi
Z
Li
Dake
D
Qi
Jun
J
Chen
Chen
C
Zhang
Zhenghui
Z
Yi
Chengmei
C
Yuan
Zuowei
Z
Wang
Wu
W
Hong
Shunying
S
Yu
Donghong
D
Cui
Yiru
Y
Fang
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D044466:Asian People; D003511:Cyclohexanols / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride; D055815:Young Adult
D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D003511:Cyclohexanols; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride