title: Pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, but not CRP, are inversely correlated with severity and symptoms of major depression.
abstract: To clarify findings of elevated cytokine levels in major depression (MD), this study aimed to investigate the relationship between serum levels of cytokines, symptoms of MD and antidepressant treatment outcome. At baseline (T0) and 4 weeks following initiation of antidepressant treatment (T1), levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, granulocyte-macrophage-colony-stimulating-factor (GM-CSF), CRP and depression ratings HAMD-17 and BDI-II were assessed in 30 patients with MD and 30 age-and sex-matched controls. At T0, in the patient group, cytokines, but not CRP, negatively correlated with individual BDI-II-items, factors and severities and showed both negative and positive correlations with HAMD-17 items. At T1 and within the controls, no such relationships were observed. At T0 and T1, levels of both pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines were significantly higher in treatment responders (ΔHAMD-17T0-T1≥50%,n=15) compared to non-responders. When controlled for baseline BDI, differences between groups were only found significant for IL-2 at T0. The results suggest cytokines are not generally pro-depressive but rather relate to more specific regulation of symptoms and severities in MD. Together with the association between cytokines and treatment responder status, these data support cytokines as a promising but still controversial biomarker of depression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Leipzig, Semmelweisstr. 10, d-04103 Leipzig, Germany. Electronic address: Frank.Schmidt2@medizin.uni-leipzig.de.
authors.forename: Frank M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Leipzig, Semmelweisstr. 10, d-04103 Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schröder
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Tasmania, GPO Box 252-27, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia.
authors.forename: Kenneth C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Kirkby
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Leipzig, Semmelweisstr. 10, d-04103 Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sander
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Leipzig, Semmelweisstr. 10, d-04103 Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suslow
authors.affiliation: Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Marchioninistr. 15, d-81377 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Lesca M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Holdt
authors.affiliation: Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Marchioninistr. 15, d-81377 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Teupser
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Leipzig, Semmelweisstr. 10, d-04103 Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hegerl
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Leipzig, Semmelweisstr. 10, d-04103 Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Hubertus
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Himmerich
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; C508609:IL10 protein, human; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D007376:Interleukin-2; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: Antidepressant treatment prediction; BDI-II; Biomarker; Depressive symptoms; HAMD-17; Immunity; Inflammation