Depression and possible cancer risk due to oxidative DNA damage

Depression gets old fast: do stress and depression accelerate cell aging?

“…[112] OXIDATION Stress and altered HPA axis activity can also increase oxidative damage and decrease antioxidant defenses. [20,29,46,124] Oxidative stress, together with inflammatory cytokines, often increase with aging and in various disease states, whereas antioxidant and antiinflammatory activities paradoxically decrease, resulting in a heightened likelihood of cellular damage and of a senescent phenotype. [20,125] Oxidative stress occurs when the production of oxygen-free radicals exceeds the capacity of the body's antioxidants to neutralize them.…”

“…Oxidative stress damages DNA, protein, lipids, and other macromolecules in many tissues, with telomeres (discussed below) [126] and the brain [90] being particularly sensitive. Elevated plasma and/or urine oxidative stress markers (e.g., increased F2-isoprostanes and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine along with decreased antioxidant compounds, such as Vitamins C and E) have been reported in individuals with depression and in those with chronic psychological stress, [27,29,127,128] and the concentration of peripheral oxidative stress markers is positively correlated with the severity and chronicity of depression, [29,129,130] as well as with evidence of accelerated apoptosis in polymorphonuclear blood cells. [131] Furthermore, the ratio of serum oxidized lipids (F2-isoprostanes) to antioxidants (Vitamin E) is directly related to psychological stress, and is inversely related to telomere length and telomerase activity (both discussed below) in chronically stressed caregivers.…”

“…[17][18][19][20][21] It has recently been appreciated that psychological stress can also prematurely age cells, possibly by invoking similar physical processes. [15,20,[22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32] Major depression and its associated biological perturbations are the focus of this review. To the extent similar processes are seen in other conditions (e.g., chronic psychological stress, posttraumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia, certain neurodegenerative disorders, etc.…”

Biological Alterations in Depression

“…Stressful events like separation or divorce are correlated with increased cancer risk, low proportions of NK and T cells, impairment of DNA repair, and abnormal immune response (Kiecolt-Glaser et al, 1987). The presence of reactive oxygen species has been detected in depressed patients (Irie et al, 2005). Levels of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), a biomarker of cancer-related oxidative DNA damage, is positively correlated with depressive symptoms (Irie et al, 2005), which suggests that depression may be associated with cancer.…”

“…The presence of reactive oxygen species has been detected in depressed patients (Irie et al, 2005). Levels of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), a biomarker of cancer-related oxidative DNA damage, is positively correlated with depressive symptoms (Irie et al, 2005), which suggests that depression may be associated with cancer. In 1987, Wagner-Jauregg demonstrated that activation of the immune system can affect various mental states (Raju, 1998).…”