Altered Serum IL-6 and TGF-β1 Levels Are Associated With Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A Case-Control Study.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Immunology
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a chronic condition involving excessive worry.
• The exact causes of GAD are not fully understood, but immunological factors are implicated.
• Biomarkers for GAD assessment are limited, necessitating further research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) in GAD patients.
• To explore the potential of IL-6 and TGF-β1 as biomarkers for GAD.

Main Methods:

• Study included 44 GAD patients and 44 healthy controls.
• GAD diagnosis was based on DSM-5 criteria by a qualified psychiatrist.
• Serum IL-6 and TGF-β1 levels were measured using ELISA kits.

Main Results:

• GAD patients exhibited significantly lower serum IL-6 and TGF-β1 levels compared to healthy controls.
• A negative association was observed between IL-6 levels and GAD-7 scores in GAD patients.
• ROC analysis indicated high predictive accuracy for IL-6 and TGF-β1 as biomarkers for GAD.

Conclusions:

• Reduced serum IL-6 and TGF-β1 levels may play a role in GAD pathophysiology.
• Cytokine alterations are crucial for evaluating GAD patients.
• Further interventional studies are recommended to confirm the predictive performance of IL-6 and TGF-β1 in GAD.