Lymphocyte subsets and lymphokine production in patients with melancholic versus nonmelancholic depression

Psychiatry Res. 2004 Oct 30;128(3):259-65. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2004.06.004.

Abstract

Several studies have reported immune changes during depression, but the results have not been fully consistent. Some of these changes could be related to the presence of melancholic features. A total of 42 depressed patients (melancholic [MEL] and nonmelancholic [non-MEL]) and 20 healthy controls participated in the study. We detected a higher CD4+ lymphocyte subset in MEL patients than in controls during the depressive state, which disappeared after clinical remission. We also found an increase in interleukin-2 (IL-2) production both in MEL and non-MEL patients, but these values did not differ from control values after clinical remission. Some of these changes may be related to the melancholic characteristics of depression.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count*
  • CD4-CD8 Ratio
  • Depressive Disorder / diagnosis
  • Depressive Disorder / immunology*
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / diagnosis
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / immunology*
  • Escherichia coli / immunology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-2 / blood
  • Interleukin-4 / blood
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology*
  • Lipopolysaccharides / immunology
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • Lymphocyte Count
  • Lymphokines / blood*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Psychoneuroimmunology
  • Reference Values

Substances

  • Interleukin-2
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Lymphokines
  • Interleukin-4