Elevation of plasma concentration of adhesion molecules in late-life depression

• Published in: International journal of geriatric psychiatry Vol. 21; no. 10; pp. 965 - 971
• Main Authors: Dimopoulos, Nikolaos, Piperi, Christina, Salonicioti, Aristea, Mitsonis, Charalampos, Liappas, Ioannis, Lea, Robert W., Kalofoutis, Anastasios
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01.10.2006; Wiley; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: adhesion molecules; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Age of Onset; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - blood; Cardiovascular disease; Case-Control Studies; Cell Adhesion Molecules - blood; Depression; Depressive Disorder - blood; Depressive Disorder - diagnosis; Depressive Disorder - etiology; elderly; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Geriatric psychiatry; Geriatric psychology; Geriatrics; Humans; ICAM-1; Inflammation - blood; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 - blood; Male; Medical sciences; Mental depression; Middle Aged; Mood disorders; Plasma; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychoanalysis; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 - blood; Vascular Diseases - blood; VCAM-1; Human; Mood disorder; Biological fluid; Vascular cell adhesion molecule 1; Intercellular adhesion molecule 1; Cell adhesion molecule; Depression; ICAM-1; Concentration; Blood plasma; Gerontology; VCAM-1; adhesion molecules; Elderly; Psychiatry; Geriatrics
• ISSN: 0885-6230; 1099-1166
• DOI: 10.1002/gps.1592

Objectives Late‐life depression may be associated with vascular disease. The purpose of the study was to investigate this association by determining the levels of soluble adhesion molecules (sICAM‐1 and sVCAM‐1) which represent markers of ischemia‐induced inflammation in elderly individuals with depression. Methods Blood samples were obtained from 33 subjects with depression selected from a community‐dwelling population after screening with the Geriatric Depression Scale, and 33 matched controls. Serum concentrations of sICAM‐1 (ng/mL) and sVCAM‐1 (ng/mL) were measured in both groups. Results Depressed patients (Group A) possessed significantly higher sICAM‐1 levels compared to healthy controls (Group B) (674.94 ± 166.90 ng/ml vs 467.05 ± 231.26 ng/ml, respectively, p < 0.01). Similarly the same groups demonstrated elevated sVCAM‐1 levels compared to controls (572.14 ± 182.20 ng/ml vs 449.04 ± 285.27 ng/ml, p < 0.05); a difference that in both cases remained significant after adjustment for potential confounders (gender, smoking, presence of metabolic syndrome). Conclusion These findings indicate an association between high serum levels of VCAM‐1, and ICAM‐1 and depression in the elderly and further support the vascular depression hypothesis, which has important implications for the understanding and management of late‐life depression. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.