Disturbance of serum albumin conformation in patients with melancholic depression

Abstract

IntroductionThe last years it is became clear that disturbances in molecular processes in pathological conditions can be connected with conformational changes in protein structure.AimInvestigation of blood albumin conformation in patients with melancholic depression.Material and methodsThere were investigated 19 patients with melancholic depression (12 women and 7 men) and 25 health volunteers. Patient's state according to ICD-10 criteria was defined as a depressive episode in the frame of bipolar depressive disorder (type 2) (F32) and in the structure of recurrent depressive disorder (F33). Subnanosecond laser time resolved fluorescence spectroscopy (SLTRFS) (subnanosecond diapason) with K-35 fluorescent probe was used for the investigation of albumin conformation.Results and discussionThere were revealed 3 binding sites in albumin molecule with fluorescent decay time of 1, 3 and 9 nanoseconds (A1, A3 and A9 sites, respectively) in healthy volunteers using SLTRFS approach. There were found significant differences between albumin binding sites of volunteers and patients with melancholic depression, respectively, А1–117 ± 7 и 142 ± 10; А3–358 ± 14 и 420 ± 26; А9–371 ± 16 и 433 ± 29.ConclusionThese findings point out that melancholic depression is followed by conformational changes of albumin molecule that can affect its functional properties. We can hypothesized that albumin binding properties can serve as a biomarker of the efficacy of psychopharmacotherapy.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.