Plasma alpha-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain 4 as an age-specific biomarker in the diagnosis and treatment of major depressive disorder.

BACKGROUND

The diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) mainly depends on subjective clinical symptoms, without an acceptable objective biomarker for the clinical application of MDD. Inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain 4 (ITIH4) showed a high specificity as biomarker for the diagnosis and treatment of MDD. The present study aimed to investigate differences in plasma ITIH4 in two different aged MDD patients and underlying pathological mechanisms of plasma ITIH4 in the occurrence and development of MDD.

METHODS

Sixty-five adult MDD patients, 51 adolescent MDD patients, and 64 healthy controls (HCs) were included in the present study. A 14-days' antidepressive treatment was conducted in all MDD patients. Psychological assessments were performed and plasma ITIH4 and astrocyte-related markers were detected for all participants.

RESULTS

(1) Plasma levels of ITIH4 in adult MDD patients were significantly higher than adolescent MDD patients and HCs, and significantly increased plasma ITIH4 levels was observed in adolescent MDD patients compared with HCs (2). There were positive correlations between plasma ITIH4 levels and 24-item Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD-24) scores and plasma glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) levels in MDD patients, however, plasma ITIH4 levels were significantly correlated with age just in adult MDD patients (3). Plasma ITIH4 showed area under the curve values of 0.824 and 0.729 to differentiate adult MDD patients and adolescent MDD patients from HCs, respectively (4). There was significant decrease in plasma levels of ITIH4 between before and after antidepressive treatment in adult MDD patients, but not in adolescent MDD patients (5). Changed value of ITIH4 levels were correlated with the changed value of GFAP levels and changed rate of HAMD-24 scores in adult MDD patients following antidepressive treatment.

CONCLUSION

Plasma ITIH4 may be potential plasma biomarkers of MDD with age-related specificity, which was associated with depressive symptoms astrocyte-related pathologic changes, and antidepressive treatment efficacy.