Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 12, 2026

An Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress Protocol for Instigating Depressive Symptoms, Behavioral Changes and Negative Health Outcomes in Rodents
Published on: December 2, 2015
Increased CD56+ natural killer cells and related cytokines in major depression
A Seidel1, V Arolt, M Hunstiger
1Institute of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, University of Lübeck School of Medicine, Germany.
Abstract:
Twenty-seven inpatients with major depression were examined four times within 6 weeks to assess CD56+ natural killer (NK) cell counts by flow cytometry and to assess the related lymphokines interleukin-2 and interferon-gamma in a whole blood assay after mitogen stimulation with phytohemagglutinin (PHA). The patient showed significantly higher counts of the fraction of 56+ NK cells and a greater lymphokine response to PHA than the controls. A significant correlation between lymphokine secretion and CD56+ cell counts was detected in the patients' acute clinical stage, but not in healthy controls or in patients after clinical improvement.
Related Concept Videos
G-protein Coupled Receptors
Depression: Overview

