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Citalopram reduces endotoxin-induced fatigue
Jonas Hannestad1, Nicole DellaGioia, Nyrma Ortiz
1Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. jonas.hannestad@yale.edu
Brain, Behavior, and Immunity
|October 20, 2010
Summary
Preventive treatment with citalopram, a serotonin-reuptake inhibitor, reduced endotoxin-induced depressive symptoms like lassitude in healthy subjects. This occurred without affecting the immune system's response to endotoxin.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Elevated inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), are implicated in depression.
- Innate immune system activation via endotoxin can induce mild depressive-like symptoms in humans.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether preventive treatment with antidepressants can mitigate endotoxin-induced depressive symptoms.
- To examine the effect of citalopram on endotoxin-induced immune responses and mood symptoms.
Main Methods:
- A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over study involving 11 healthy subjects.
- Administration of intravenous low-dose endotoxin or placebo after 5 days of oral citalopram or placebo pre-treatment.
- Assessment of depressive and anxiety symptoms using validated scales and measurement of serum TNF and IL-6 levels.
Main Results:
- Endotoxin administration increased serum TNF and IL-6 levels and induced symptoms of lassitude and social anhedonia.
- Citalopram pre-treatment did not alter the peripheral immune response to endotoxin.
- Citalopram significantly reduced endotoxin-induced depressive symptoms, particularly lassitude, with moderate to large effect sizes.
Conclusions:
- Subchronic pre-treatment with citalopram blunts mood symptoms caused by acute immune activation without suppressing the peripheral immune response.
- This suggests a potential therapeutic strategy for managing depression linked to immune system activation.
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