Oxidative stress markers imbalance in late-life depression

• Published in: Journal of psychiatric research Vol. 102; pp. 29 - 33
• Main Authors: Diniz, Breno S., Mendes-Silva, Ana Paula, Silva, Lucelia Barroso, Bertola, Laiss, Vieira, Monica Costa, Ferreira, Jessica Diniz, Nicolau, Mariana, Bristot, Giovana, da Rosa, Eduarda Dias, Teixeira, Antonio L., Kapczinski, Flavio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2018
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cognition Disorders - etiology; Cognitive impairment; Depression - complications; Depression - metabolism; Depression - physiopathology; Elderly; F2-Isoprostanes - metabolism; Female; Glutathione Peroxidase - metabolism; Glutathione Reductase - metabolism; Glutathione Transferase - metabolism; Humans; Late-life depression; Lipid peroxidation; Lipid Peroxidation - physiology; Male; Middle Aged; Oxidative stress; Oxidative Stress - physiology; Protein Carbonylation - physiology; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances - metabolism; Lipid peroxidation; Oxidative stress; Elderly; Late-life depression; Cognitive impairment
• ISSN: 0022-3956; 1879-1379; 1879-1379
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2018.02.023

Oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathophysiology of mood disorders in young adults. However, there is few data to support its role in the elderly. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate whether subjects with late-life depression (LLD) presented with changes in oxidative stress response in comparison with the non-depressed control group. We then explored how oxidative stress markers associated with specific features of LLD, in particular cognitive performance and age of onset of major depressive disorder in these individuals. We included a convenience sample of 124 individuals, 77 with LLD and 47 non-depressed subjects (Controls). We measure the plasma levels of 6 oxidative stress markers: thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), protein carbonil content (PCC), free 8-isoprostane, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, glutathione reductase (GR) activity, and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity. We found that participants with LLD had significantly higher free 8-isoprostane levels (p = 0.003) and lower glutathione peroxidase activity (p = 0.006) compared to controls. Free 8-isoprostane levels were also significantly correlated with worse scores in the initiation/perseverance (r = −0.24, p = 0.01), conceptualization (r = −0.22, p = 0.02) sub-scores, and the total scores (r = −0.21, p = 0.04) on the DRS. Our study provides robust evidence of the imbalance between oxidative stress damage, in particular lipid peroxidation, and anti-oxidative defenses as a mechanism related to LLD, and cognitive impairment in this population. Interventions aiming to reduce oxidative stress damage can have a potential neuroprotective effect for LLD subjects. •Imbalance between oxidative and anti-oxidative stress makers can contribute to the development of late-life depression.•LLD has higher F2-isoprotane levels, suggesting an increased lipid peroxidation during the depressive episode..•Higher F2-isoprostane levels were also correlated with worse cognitive performance among LLD individuals.