An analysis of serum levels of cytokines and relative factors in depression patients / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the serum levels of cytokines in patients with depression and their correlations with sex,age,depression severity and anxiety severity.Methods After enrolling subjects into the corresponding patient group and control group,the same trained researcher should continue to collect general information of the enrolled subjects as well as the HAMA and HAMD scoring results collection and assessment;And the serum levels of interlukin-1β (IL-1β),interlukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were detected with the method of enzyme-linked Immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA) in two groups.Results ① The serum levels of IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α of depression group were significantly higher than these in control group (P＜0.05),which were ((5.45±3.60) pg/ml vs(2.63± 1.92) pg/ml,(5.09±3.74) pg/ml vs (3.83±2.71) pg/ml,(5.77±3.94) pg/ml vs (4.05±3.25) pg/ml) respectively.②There was no significant difference in serum levels of IL-1 β,IL-6 and TNF-α between male and female patients with depression (P＞0.05).③ No conspicuous differences were found between the young group and the middle-aged group in serum levels of IL-1β,IL-6,TNF-α (P＞0.05).④ Serum level of IL-6 in major depressive disorder group((6.24±4.68) pg/ml) was more higher than that in mild to moderate depression group((3.95± 1.97)pg/ml),and the difference was statistically significant (t=2.467,P＜0.05).⑤There was significant differences in serum level of IL-6 between two groups,which were depression patients with and without anxiety (separately(5.80±4.37) pg/ml vs(3.87±1.80) pg/ml) (t=2.397,P＜0.05).Conclusions ①There is a phenomenon of immune activation,and levels of blood cytokines are raised in patients with depression.②Age and gender have no impact on depression in the level of cytokines.③IL-6 may be an important biological index that reflected the severity of depression and anxiety.