Department of Neuropsychiatry, Oita University Faculty of Medicine, Hasama-Machi, Oita 879-5593, Japan.
Int J Psychiatry Clin Pract. 2010 Nov;14(4):268-73. doi: 10.3109/13651501.2010.500737. Epub 2010 Sep 14.
Abstract Objective. Major depressive disorder (MDD) is often associated with dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis via chronic stress. Psychosocial stress-induced activation of salivary α-amylase (sAA) represents sympathoadrenal medullary system (SAM) activity, and sAA has become an emerging biomarker for sympathetic nervous system activity. In contrast to salivary cortisol, sAA has been less extensively studied in depressed patients. The present study sought to address this problem by measuring sAA and salivary cortisol levels in patients with major depressive disorder. Methods. The authors recorded Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) scores along with, levels of sAA and salivary cortisol in 28 patients with unremitted major depressive disorder, 43 remitted patients and 103 healthy volunteers. Results. STAI (State or Trait) measurements in unremitted patients with MDD were significantly increased compared with healthy controls and remitted patients. SAA and cortisol levels in unremitted patients were also significantly elevated compared to controls and remitted patients. Finally, sAA levels were significantly correlated with HRSD in unremitted patients with MDD. Conclusion. These preliminary results suggest that sAA may be a state-dependent marker of major depressive disorder in addition to salivary cortisol.
摘要 目的：重度抑郁症（MDD）常与下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺（HPA）轴通过慢性应激失调有关。唾液 α-淀粉酶（sAA）的心理社会应激诱导激活代表交感肾上腺髓质系统（SAM）的活性，并且 sAA 已经成为交感神经系统活性的新兴生物标志物。与唾液皮质醇相比，sAA 在抑郁患者中的研究较少。本研究通过测量重度抑郁症患者的 sAA 和唾液皮质醇水平来解决这个问题。 方法：作者记录了 28 名未缓解的重度抑郁症患者、43 名缓解的患者和 103 名健康志愿者的 Spielberger 状态-特质焦虑量表（STAI）评分以及 sAA 和唾液皮质醇水平。 结果：与健康对照组和缓解组患者相比，MDD 未缓解患者的 STAI（状态或特质）测量值显著升高。与对照组和缓解组患者相比，未缓解患者的 sAA 和皮质醇水平也明显升高。最后，sAA 水平与 MDD 未缓解患者的 HRSD 显著相关。 结论：这些初步结果表明，sAA 可能是除唾液皮质醇之外，MDD 的一种与状态相关的标志物。
