ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the relationship between cognition and serum cytokines in middle school students with depressive symptoms. Methods The serum levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and tumor necrosis factor-? (TNF-?) were measured in 49 middle school students with depressive symptoms and 32 normal controls by adopting scales and radioimmunology methods. Results ①The serum levels of IL-2, IL-6, and TNF-? in middle school students with depressive symptoms were significantly lower than those in the controls. ② Serum levels of IL-2, IL-6, and TNF-? in depressive subjects were negatively correlated with the total scores of Beck, Zung and Automatic Thoughts Questionnaire (ATQ), but serum IL-8 levels were positively and significantly correlated with total Beck, Zung and ATQ scores. ③ Serum levels of IL-2, IL-6, and TNF-? were correlated negatively with Beck and ATQ factors. Conclusion Depressive symptoms in middle school students are accompanied by signs of immunosuppression. The immunological mechanisms may be different from the clinical major depression.