TY - JOUR
T1 - Differences in cytokines between non-suicidal patients and suicidal patients in major depression
AU - Kim, Yong Ku
AU - Lee, Sung Woo
AU - Kim, Su Hyun
AU - Shim, Se Hoon
AU - Han, Sang Woo
AU - Choi, So Hyun
AU - Lee, Bun Hee
PY - 2008/2/15
Y1 - 2008/2/15
N2 - Several studies have shown that there is an imbalance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in major depressive disorder (MDD). However, little is known about the role of cytokines in suicide. In the present study, amounts of IL-6, IL-2, IFN-γ, IL-4, and TGF-β1 produced by mitogen-stimulated whole blood were measured in 36 MDD patients who had recently attempted suicide, 33 non-suicidal MDD patients, and 40 normal controls. The severity of depression symptoms and suicidal behaviors was evaluated using Hamilton's depression rating scale (HDRS), the Lethality Suicide Attempt Rating Scale (LSARS), and the Risk-Rescue Rating (RRR). Non-suicidal MDD patients had significantly higher IL-6 production than suicidal MDD patients and normal controls (p < 0.001). Suicidal MDD patients had significantly lower IL-2 compared with non-suicidal patients and normal controls (p < 0.001). Both MDD groups, with or without attempted suicide, had significantly lower IFN-γ and IL-4 and higher TGF-β1 production. HDRS scores had significant positive correlations with IL-6, IFN-γ, and the Th1/Th2 ratio and significant negative correlations with IL-4 in non-suicidal depression patients (p < 0.005); however, these correlations did not hold true for suicidal patients. Suicidal MDD patients had no significant correlations between the LSARS or RRR scores and cytokine release. Our findings suggest that the immune response has distinct differences between non-suicidal patients and suicidal patients. Non-suicidal MDD may be associated with increased IL-6 production and a Th1/Th2 imbalance with a shift to Th1, while suicidal MDD may be associated with decreased IL-2.
AB - Several studies have shown that there is an imbalance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in major depressive disorder (MDD). However, little is known about the role of cytokines in suicide. In the present study, amounts of IL-6, IL-2, IFN-γ, IL-4, and TGF-β1 produced by mitogen-stimulated whole blood were measured in 36 MDD patients who had recently attempted suicide, 33 non-suicidal MDD patients, and 40 normal controls. The severity of depression symptoms and suicidal behaviors was evaluated using Hamilton's depression rating scale (HDRS), the Lethality Suicide Attempt Rating Scale (LSARS), and the Risk-Rescue Rating (RRR). Non-suicidal MDD patients had significantly higher IL-6 production than suicidal MDD patients and normal controls (p < 0.001). Suicidal MDD patients had significantly lower IL-2 compared with non-suicidal patients and normal controls (p < 0.001). Both MDD groups, with or without attempted suicide, had significantly lower IFN-γ and IL-4 and higher TGF-β1 production. HDRS scores had significant positive correlations with IL-6, IFN-γ, and the Th1/Th2 ratio and significant negative correlations with IL-4 in non-suicidal depression patients (p < 0.005); however, these correlations did not hold true for suicidal patients. Suicidal MDD patients had no significant correlations between the LSARS or RRR scores and cytokine release. Our findings suggest that the immune response has distinct differences between non-suicidal patients and suicidal patients. Non-suicidal MDD may be associated with increased IL-6 production and a Th1/Th2 imbalance with a shift to Th1, while suicidal MDD may be associated with decreased IL-2.
KW - Cytokine
KW - Depression
KW - IL-2
KW - IL-4
KW - Suicide
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=38749084587&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=38749084587&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2007.08.041
DO - 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2007.08.041
M3 - Article
C2 - 17919797
AN - SCOPUS:38749084587
VL - 32
SP - 356
EP - 361
JO - Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry
JF - Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry
SN - 0278-5846
IS - 2
ER -