Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
PLoS One. 2018 Jun 1;13(6):e0197267. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0197267. eCollection 2018.
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common condition that afflicts the general population across a broad spectrum of ages and social backgrounds. The inflammatory hypothesis of depression posits that immune hyperactivation and dysregulated cytokine production are involved in depression. To investigate cytokine profiles in patients with MDD, we examined the levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and those of the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 in antidepressant drug-naïve patients with MDD. Compared to healthy controls, patients with MDD had significantly higher levels of IL-1β, IL-10, and TNF-α, but significantly lower levels of IL-8. There were no significant differences in the levels of IL-6 or TGF-β1. We found linear correlations between IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-8, and the severity of depression, as well as between IL-8 and anxiety level in patients with comorbid anxiety disorder. In addition, higher IL-1β and TNF-α levels were associated with higher Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) scores, while higher IL-8 levels were associated with lower HAMD and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale scores. Here we present evidence of changes in cytokine levels in antidepressant drug-naïve patients with MDD. Abnormal expression of inflammatory cytokines in patients with depression suggests that depression activates an inflammatory process. Immunological abnormalities may be involved in the pathophysiology of depression.
重性抑郁障碍（MDD）是一种常见病症，影响着各个年龄段和社会背景的普通人群。抑郁症的炎症假说认为，免疫过度激活和细胞因子产生失调与抑郁症有关。为了研究 MDD 患者的细胞因子谱，我们检测了抗抑郁药初治 MDD 患者促炎细胞因子白细胞介素（IL）-1β、IL-6、IL-8 和肿瘤坏死因子（TNF）-α，以及抗炎细胞因子 IL-10 和转化生长因子（TGF）-β1 的水平。与健康对照组相比，MDD 患者的 IL-1β、IL-10 和 TNF-α水平显著升高，而 IL-8 水平显著降低。IL-6 或 TGF-β1 水平无显著差异。我们发现 IL-1β、TNF-α 和 IL-8 与抑郁严重程度之间，以及合并焦虑障碍的患者的 IL-8 与焦虑水平之间存在线性相关性。此外，较高的 IL-1β 和 TNF-α水平与较高的汉密尔顿抑郁量表（HAMD）评分相关，而较高的 IL-8 水平与较低的 HAMD 和汉密尔顿焦虑量表评分相关。本研究提供了抗抑郁药初治 MDD 患者细胞因子水平变化的证据。抑郁患者中炎症细胞因子的异常表达表明，抑郁激活了炎症过程。免疫异常可能参与了抑郁症的病理生理学过程。
