Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 11, 2026

Association Between Sleep Quality and Cognitive Symptoms in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder
Published on: April 26, 2024
Low cerebrospinal fluid transthyretin levels in depression: correlations with suicidal ideation and low serotonin
Gregory M Sullivan1, J John Mann, Maria A Oquendo
1Division of Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, NY 10032, USA. gms11@columbia.edu
Background:
Transthyretin (TTR) is a thyroid hormone binding protein synthesized by choroid plexus and secreted into cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). We sought to replicate and extend our previous findings of lower CSF TTR in depression.
Methods:
Cerebrospinal fluid TTR concentrations of 17 medication-free patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and 15 healthy individuals were determined by a sensitive, specific radioimmunoassay newly developed in our laboratory (ESL, TBC).
Results:
Cerebrospinal fluid TTR was lower in the MDD patients compared with healthy volunteers (mean +/- SD, 19.7 +/- 1.6 vs. 21.8 +/- 2.2 mg/L, p = .005). Age correlated positively with CSF TTR (r = .38, p < .05). The group difference remained significant (p < .005) after covariance for age. Within the MDD group, Scale for Suicide Ideation total score correlated inversely with CSF TTR (beta = -.58, p < .05). In the entire sample of depressed and healthy individuals, CSF 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) correlated positively (beta = .34, p < .05) with CSF TTR.
Conclusions:
We replicated our finding of low CSF TTR levels in depression and newly identified two relationships that may explain reports linking thyroid axis dysfunction and suicidal behaviors. Serotonergic hypofunction in depression, reflected by low CSF 5-HIAA, may result in decreased choroid plexus TTR production, alterations in central thyroid hormone kinetics, and increased vulnerability to suicidal ideation and perhaps suicide.
Related Concept Videos
Depression: Overview
G-protein Coupled Receptors
Long-term Depression
Calcium Ion Concentration Mechanism
If over time, all...
Long-term Depression
Role of Neurotransmitters in Memory
Glutamate and Synaptic Plasticity
Glutamate, the brain's main excitatory neurotransmitter, is critical for...
Electroconvulsive Therapy
