Related Experiment Videos
Immunity in young adults with major depressive disorder
S J Schleifer1, S E Keller, J A Bartlett
1Department of Psychiatry, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, 07103, USA.
The American Journal of Psychiatry
|April 1, 1996
Summary
Major depression in young adults is linked to immune system changes, particularly affecting natural killer (NK) cells. These findings in young adults differ from those observed in older depressed individuals.
Area of Science:
- Psychoneuroimmunology
- Immunology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Previous research suggests an age-related link between major depression and altered immunity.
- Understanding immune system changes in young adults with depression is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate immune system alterations in young adults experiencing a major depressive episode.
- To compare immune measures between depressed and non-depressed young adults.
Main Methods:
- Assessed 21 unmedicated young adults with major depressive episode using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R.
- Compared a comprehensive set of quantitative and functional immune measures with 21 matched non-depressed controls.
- Collected all immune data on the same day from both groups.
Main Results:
- Depressed young adults exhibited higher circulating leukocytes and granulocytes.
- Subjects with major depression had fewer CD56+ (natural killer [NK]) cells and reduced NK cell activity.
- Mitogen responses showed minimal differences, except for a potential increase at the highest phytohemagglutinin dose.
Conclusions:
- Major depression in young adults is associated with specific immune system alterations, predominantly involving NK cells.
- These immune changes in young adults partially differ from those observed in older adults with depression.