Plasma galanin is a biomarker for severity of major depressive disorder.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated the association between plasma galanin level and depression severity.


METHODS
The severity of depression symptoms of 79 patients with major depressive disorder (MDD; 52 women and 27 men, 71 patients in onset, 8 in remission) was assessed using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Venous fasting blood samples (5 mL) were taken from the 79 MDD patients, 35 healthy siblings, and 19 healthy controls, and plasma samples were prepared. Galanin levels in the plasma were measured by radioimmunoassay.


RESULTS
Plasma galanin in MDD patients was significantly higher than that of remission patients, healthy siblings, or healthy controls (P < 0.05) There was no significant difference between the healthy sibling and healthy control groups (P = 0.924). Plasma galanin of remission patients was also significantly higher than that of healthy controls (P < 0.05). There was no significant correlation between age and galanin levels in the 79 patients (r = 0.053, P = 0.646), nor was there a correlation between age and galanin levels when patients were stratified by gender (P > 0.05). There was a significant positive correlation between plasma galanin levels and depression severity in women MDD patients (r = 0.329, df = 42, P = 0.020), but not in men patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Plasma galanin levels may be an important biomarker for depression severity, especially in female patients.
Tianjin AnDing Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Tsinghua University, Beijing.
Yong-Jun
YJ
Wang
Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Regeneration and Repair, Capital Medical University.
Yu-Tao
YT
Yang
Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Regeneration and Repair, Capital Medical University.
Hui
H
Li
Tsinghua University, Beijing.
Po-Zi
PZ
Liu
Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Capital Medical University.
Chuan-Yue
CY
Wang
Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Regeneration and Repair, Capital Medical University.
Zhi-Qing David
ZQ
Xu
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D019004:Galanin / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000378:metabolism*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012737:Sex Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic
D015415:Biomarkers; D019004:Galanin
Hamilton Depression Rating Scale; galanin; major depressive disorder; plasma