Cytokine production and treatment response in major depressive disorder

• Published in: Neuropsychopharmacology (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 22; no. 4; pp. 370 - 379
• Main Authors: LANQUILLON, S, KRIEG, J.-C, BENING-ABU-SHACH, U, VEDDER, H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Nature Publishing 01.04.2000; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: Amitriptyline - administration & dosage; Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic - administration & dosage; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Count; Cytokines - biosynthesis; Cytokines - blood; Depressive Disorder - blood; Depressive Disorder - psychology; Female; Humans; Interleukin-6 - blood; Lymphocyte Count - drug effects; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Monocytes - drug effects; Neuropharmacology; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Psychoanaleptics: cns stimulant, antidepressant agent, nootropic agent, mood stabilizer..., (alzheimer disease); Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopharmacology; Regression Analysis; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - metabolism; Mood disorder; Human; Amitriptyline; Monocyte; Psychotropic; Cytokine; Depression; Tricyclic compound; Long term; Blood; Interleukin 6; Chemotherapy; Treatment; Antidepressant agent; Mechanism of action; Lymphocyte; Tumor necrosis factor α; Immune system
• ISSN: 0893-133X; 1740-634X
• DOI: 10.1016/s0893-133x(99)00134-7

In a controlled study, such immunological parameters as whole blood production of the cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor-necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were assessed in 24 inpatients with a major depressive disorder (MDD) both before and again under treatment. After a 6-week treatment period with amitriptyline, patients were classified as responders or nonresponders according to their psychopathological outcome as evaluated by the Hamilton and the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scales. Pre-treatment levels of c-reactive protein (CRP) were significantly higher in both patient subgroups than in the control subjects. In comparison to the controls, unstimulated pretreatment production of IL-6 was significantly decreased in the responders; whereas it was significantly increased in the nonresponder subgroup. Post-treatment values did not differ significantly among the patient and control groups. Pretreatment levels of TNF-alpha were increased in both patient subgroups, with a significant decrease during treatment only in the responder subgroup. Pretreatment levels of IL-6/10(5) mononuclear cells and the ratio between lymphocytes and monocytes acted as independent variables with regard to the clinical response. Our data indicate that unstimulated secretion of TNF-alpha is related to the psychopathological improvement; whereas, IL-6 levels might dichotomize the patients into subsequent responders and nonresponders already at admission.