Increased levels of alpha‐1‐acid glycoprotein and interleukin‐6 in refractory depression

Abstract

Plasma concentrations of alpha-1 -acid glycoprotein (AGP), C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and soluble interleukin-6 receptor (sIL-6R) as well as the changes in glycosylation of AGP were measured in 60 patients with major depression hospitalized at the Deparhnent of Psychiaq, Medical Academy in Bydgomn, and in 20 age-and sex-matched controls. Thirty-four depressed patients met the criteria of refiactory depression. Patients with refiactoly depression (RD) had a longer duration of the illness and the last depressive episode than the responders to antidepressant treatment. RD patients had higher concentrations of AGP, CRP, IL-6, and higher monocyte count as well as the daflerent glycosylation patterns of AGP (higher values of reactivity coeficient, AGP-RC) compared with non RD patients. Depressed patients who exhibited D S T non-suppression had significantly higher values of AGP than patients showing suppression on this test. These results may suggest an elevation of acute phase response in refiactory depression. Depression 3:170-275 ( I 995). 0 199s Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Changes in Acute-Phase Proteins during Lithium Potentiation of Antidepressants in Refractory Depression

“…The results concerning the increased levels of AGP and the inflammatory patterns of AGP-RC in refractory de pressed patients, before Li addition, obtained in this study are in concordance with our previous observations on refractory depressed patients [27], In agreement with our previous study [28], we also found that treatment with Li may attenuate the abnormalities of acute-phase re sponse. After 4 weeks of Li treatment a decrement of pre viously increased levels of all APPs studied was observed as well as a decrease of the high values of AGP-RC and ACT-RC.…”

“…Patients belonging to this group had a longer duration of illness and of the last depressive episode and were most refractory' to pharmacological treatment. In another study on refractory depressed patients, we have found a more intensive index of acute-phase response in these patients compared with nonrefractory ones [27], Our preliminary data of lithium effect on APPs have suggested that Li may exert a normalizing effect on both concentration and abnormal microheterogeneity of APPs [28], In view of this, we addressed the issue whether lithi um action on the APPs may be associated with the mecha nisms of its potentiation of antidepressant drugs in refrac tory depression.…”

Negative Immunoregulatory Effects of Antidepressants Inhibition of Interferon-γ and Stimulation of Interleukin-10 Secretion

“…Phrased differently, consideration of in vivo results is needed for a correct interpretation of ex vivo data. In this respect, it has been shown that subchronic treatment with fluoxetine, another SSRI, normalized the initially increased serum IL-6 concentrations in depressed patients (Sluzewska et al 1995a(Sluzewska et al , 1995b. In Wistar rats, an 8-week exposure to mild, unpredictable stress induces a depression-like state with an increased capacity of splenocytes to produce IL-1 and IL-2.…”

“…There is some evidence for increased (1) production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1 ␤ , IL-6 and IFN ␥ in culture supernatant of mitogen-stimulated PBMC; and (2) serum concentrations of IL-6, IL-2, and IL-2 receptor in depression (Nassberger and TraskmanBendz 1993;Maes et al 1993aMaes et al , 1993bMaes et al , 1994Sluzewska et al 1995aSluzewska et al , 1995bSluzewska et al , 1996aSluzewska et al , 1996bSeidel et al 1995Seidel et al , 1996aFrommberger et al 1997). The above cytokines are known to orchestrate the key steps in the complex network, which regulates responses in cell-mediated and humoral immunity and in the IRS (Cavaillon 1996).…”

Cytokine Production and Treatment Response in Major Depressive Disorder

“…To our knowledge, only one study examined the levels of TNF-␣ in elderly women with chronic MDD and found no alterations of this cytokine (Brambilla and Maggioni 1998). In addition to these cytokines, other immune parameters, including ␣ 1-glycoprotein (AGP), have been investigated with regard to psychopathological improvement and antidepressive treatment (Frommberger et al 1997;Maes et al 1995b;McAdams 1993;Seidel et al1996;Sluzewska et al 1995b;Sluzewska et al 1996;Weizman et al 1994). The association of some of these factors (IL-6, soluble IL-6 receptor, AGP, IL-1 receptor antagonist, IL-1 ␤ ) with the depressive symptomatology points to their possible state marker character as suggested by Maes et al (1995a) and .…”