title: Impact of antidepressants on cytokine production of depressed patients in vitro.
abstract: The interplay between immune and nervous systems plays a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of depression. In depressive episodes, patients show increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. There is limited information on the effect of antidepressant drugs on cytokines, most studies report on a limited sample of cytokines and none have reported effects on IL-22. We systematically investigated the effect of three antidepressant drugs, citalopram, escitalopram and mirtazapine, on secretion of cytokines IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-17, IL-22 and TNF-α in a whole blood assay in vitro, using murine anti-human CD3 monoclonal antibody OKT3, and 5C3 monoclonal antibody against CD40, to stimulate T and B cells respectively. Citalopram increased production of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and IL-22. Mirtazapine increased IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-22. Escitalopram decreased IL-17 levels. The influence of antidepressants on IL-2 and IL-4 levels was not significant for all three drugs. Compared to escitalopram, citalopram led to higher levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17 and IL-22; and mirtazapine to higher levels of IL-1β, IL-17, IL-22 and TNF-α. Mirtazapine and citalopram increased IL-22 production. The differing profile of cytokine production may relate to differences in therapeutic effects, risk of relapse and side effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Leipzig, Semmelweisstr. 10, 04103 Leipzig, Germany. hubertus.himmerich@medizin.uni-leipzig.de.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Munzer
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Sack
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mergl
authors.forename: Jeremias
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schönherr
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Petersein
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bartsch
authors.forename: Kenneth C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Kirkby
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.forename: Hubertus
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Himmerich
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019013:CD40 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D015283:Citalopram / Q000009:adverse effects; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008803:Mianserin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D008875:Middle Aged; D000078785:Mirtazapine; D016853:Muromonab-CD3 / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D000097043:Interleukin-22
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D019013:CD40 Antigens; D015283:Citalopram; D016207:Cytokines; D020381:Interleukin-17; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015847:Interleukin-4; D015850:Interleukin-6; D007378:Interleukins; D008803:Mianserin; D000078785:Mirtazapine; D016853:Muromonab-CD3; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000097043:Interleukin-22