title: Depression and neuroticism in patients with chronic hepatitis C: correlation with peripheral blood mononuclear cells activation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is commonly associated with cognitive dysfunction and depression, which could be related to direct brain infection. Viral sequences and proteins were found in brain macrophage/microglia cells and these cells were reported to be activated. Since blood leukocytes cross blood-brain barrier, activation state of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) could reflect the state of brain immune cells.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to determine whether depression and neuroticism in chronic HCV infection correlates with the expression of key cytokines and chemokines in PBMC.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 24 HCV-positive patients undergoing treatment with interferon and ribavirin. Patients were tested for depression using Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Montgomery Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), while neuroticism was assessed by the Revised Eysenck Personality Inventory (N/EPO-R). Transcripts representing 28 various cytokines and chemokines were measured by real-time quantitative PCR in PBMC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prior to therapy BDI and MADRS positively correlated with viral load while neuroticism correlated with IL-3, IL-8 and M-CSF transcription levels. Six months after therapy there was positive correlation between depression and/or neuroticism scores and the levels of proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-12 transcripts, as well as IL-8, IL-10, IL-16, MCP-1, MCP-2, MIP-1-alpha, MIP-1-beta, and TGF-beta, and IFN-β transcripts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Activation of PBMC, as measured by the level of cytokine and chemokine transcripts, correlates with depression and neuroticism scores. These findings suggest a pivotal role of immune cells activation in depression and possibly neurocognitive dysfunction among chronic hepatitis C patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Wrocław Medical University, Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pawlowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunopathology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Radkowski
authors.affiliation: Division of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Wrocław Medical University, Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Małyszczak
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Hepatology and Acquired Immune Deficiencies, Wrocław Medical University, Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Inglot
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Hepatology and Acquired Immune Deficiencies, Wrocław Medical University, Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zalewska
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatology and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jablonska
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunopathology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland. Electronic address: tlaskus@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Laskus
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000075384:Neuroticism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger
keywords: Cognitive; Depression; HCV; Immune activation; Neuroticism