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A controlled study of cellular immune function in affective disorders before and during somatic therapy
Psychiatry Research
|July 1, 1985
Summary
Cellular immune function in depression is normal, but somatic therapies reduce lymphocyte blastogenesis. This study assessed lymphocyte responses to PHA, Con A, and PWM in depressed patients and controls.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Psychiatry
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Depression is a complex mood disorder impacting cellular functions.
- Lymphocyte blastogenesis is a key indicator of cellular immune response.
- Previous research on immune function in depression has yielded mixed results.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate lymphocyte blastogenesis in drug-free patients with unipolar or bipolar depression.
- To compare immune responses between depressed patients and healthy controls.
- To evaluate the impact of somatic therapies on lymphocyte blastogenesis in depression.
Main Methods:
- Assessed lymphocyte blastogenesis using phytohemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin A (Con A), and pokeweed mitogen (PWM).
- Studied 27 drug-free patients with depression (unipolar and bipolar) and 13 normal controls.
- Restudied 15 patients after achieving clinical remission through somatic treatment.
Main Results:
- Symptomatic depressed patients showed no significant difference in lymphocyte blastogenesis compared to controls.
- No differences were observed between endogenous and nonendogenous depression subtypes.
- A significant reduction in lymphocyte blastogenesis (PHA and Con A) was noted after somatic treatment.
Conclusions:
- Cellular immune function, specifically lymphocyte blastogenesis, appears to be normal in depressed individuals.
- Somatic therapies used for depression treatment are associated with a reduction in lymphocyte blastogenesis.
- Further research is needed to understand the long-term implications of these findings on immune health in depression.