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Age, cellular immunity and the HP axis in major depression
D F Darko1, A H Lucas, J C Gillin
1San Diego Veterans Administration Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry.
Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry
|January 1, 1988
Summary
Age significantly impacts immune cell function and neurohormone levels in major depression. Immune responses decrease with age, and this effect can mask differences between depressed patients and controls.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Major depression is associated with altered immune function and neuroendocrine pathways.
- The influence of aging on these interactions in depression is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of age on cellular immune status and the hypothalamic-pituitary (HP) axis in major depression.
- To determine if age influences immune cell function and neurohormone levels in depressed individuals compared to controls.
Main Methods:
- Examined peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and measured plasma neurohormone levels in 36 subjects.
- Assessed T lymphocyte response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and quantified T4/T8 lymphocyte subsets.
- Compared 18 depressed patients with 18 age- and sex-matched controls using Hamilton and Beck depression scales.
Main Results:
- Decreasing T lymphocyte response to PHA correlated with increasing age across all subjects.
- Plasma prolactin levels were significantly higher in depressed subjects.
- Age-related declines in T lymphocyte response were observed in controls but not in patients, suggesting age obscured group differences.
- Depression scores correlated inversely with T lymphocyte response.
Conclusions:
- Age significantly affects cellular immune status and HP axis function in major depression.
- Age-matching is crucial for accurately studying the interplay between depression and immune cell function.
- Findings highlight the need for age-stratified analysis in depression and immunology research.