Cerebrospinal cytokine levels in patients with acute depression

Joseph Levine, Y. Barak, K. N.R. Chengappa, A. Rapoport, M. Rebey, V. Barak

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    309 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    There is increasing evidence for an association between the alteration of cytokine concentrations in blood and the pathophysiology of depressive disorders. Studies in humans have not investigated CSF cytokine concentrations and their relationship to depressive disorders. This study reports on the association of the CSF concentration of proinflammatory cytokines, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNFα, and major depressive disorders. CSF samples were obtained from 13 hospitalized patients with acute unmedicated severe depression and were compared with 10 control subjects. Compared to the control group, the depressed patient group had higher CSF concentrations of IL-1β, lower IL-6 and no change in TNFα. A positive correlation was found between serum IL-1β and the severity of depression. These results indicate a unique profile for CSF proinflammatory cytokines in acute depression. These findings merit further investigation and if replicated may possibly offer immunological treatment options for depression.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)171-176
    Number of pages6
    JournalNeuropsychobiology
    Volume40
    Issue number4
    DOIs
    StatePublished - 17 Nov 1999

    Keywords

    • Cytokines
    • Depression
    • Interleukin-1
    • Interleukin-6
    • Psychoimmunology

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology
    • Psychiatry and Mental health
    • Biological Psychiatry

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