title: Airway inflammation and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity in asthmatic adults with depression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the features of airway inflammation and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPAA) activity in patients with asthma accompanied by depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult asthmatics were recruited and enrolled into one of the two groups based on scores on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD): asthmatics with depression (HAMD score ≥8, n = 23), and asthmatics without depression (HAMD score <8, n = 41). In addition, 27 healthy individuals and 21 adults with depression only were enrolled as controls. Induced sputum and blood samples were collected for measurement of cytokines and other inflammatory factors. The diurnal rhythm profiles of salivary cortisol and other hormones were obtained for assessment of the HPAA activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For the group of asthmatics with depression, the mean HAMD score was 19.0, and for the group of asthmatics without depression, the HAMD score averaged 4.9(p < .001). Serum and sputum tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) were significantly higher in asthmatics with depression than those in the other groups (p < .05) while serum interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) was lower in asthmatics with depression than that in the other groups (p < .05). Twenty-four-hour urinary cortisol, salivary cortisol at 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. were lower in asthmatics with depression compared to other groups (p < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As compared to healthy individuals and those with asthma or depression alone, individuals with comorbid depression and asthma showed the highest level of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the lowest level of anti-inflammatory cytokines and cortisol. These observations may serve as a valuable reference for diagnosis and clinic therapies of depression in asthmatics.
authors: Lab of Integrative Medicine for Lung, Inflammation and Cancers, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors: Yi-Jie
authors: YJ
authors: Du
authors: Bei
authors: B
authors: Li
authors: Hong-Ying
authors: HY
authors: Zhang
authors: Yu-Xue
authors: YX
authors: Cao
authors: Xiao-Hong
authors: XH
authors: Duan
authors: Wei-Yi
authors: WY
authors: Gong
authors: Jing-Cheng
authors: JC
authors: Dong
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D003863:Depression / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000502:physiology*; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D006854:Hydrocortisone