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Lymphocyte function in major depression
L L Altshuler1, S Plaeger-Marshall, S Richeimer
1Department of Psychiatry, UCLA School of Medicine.
Insights
Depressed patients showed a significantly increased lymphocyte response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) mitogen compared to healthy individuals. This study highlights potential immune system alterations in major depression.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Immunology
- Cellular Biology
Background:
- Major depression is a prevalent mood disorder.
- Alterations in immune function have been suggested in psychiatric conditions.
- Lymphocyte response to mitogens is a measure of cellular immunity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate immunologic function in patients with major depression.
- To compare lymphocyte PHA response in depressed patients versus healthy controls.
- To explore the variance in immune response within the depressed group.
Main Methods:
- Evaluating lymphocyte response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) mitogen.
- Assessing 8 psychiatric inpatients with DSM-III diagnosis of major depression (age < 45).
- Comparing patient responses to age- and sex-matched healthy controls.
Main Results:
- A significant increase in PHA mitogen stimulation was observed in the depressed group.
- A significantly greater variance in PHA response was noted in depressed patients compared to controls.
- The findings suggest a distinct immunologic profile in major depression.
Conclusions:
- Major depression may be associated with altered cellular immune function.
- Increased PHA response and greater response variance in depressed patients warrant further investigation.
- These findings have potential clinical implications for understanding depression and immunity.
Abstract:
Immunologic function as measured by lymphocyte response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) mitogen was evaluated in 8 psychiatric inpatients. All were less than 45 years of age and had a DSM-III diagnosis of major depression. When patient's immunologic responses were compared with healthy age- and sex-matched controls, a significant increase in PHA mitogen stimulation was observed in the depressed group. Further, a significantly greater variance in PHA response was observed in the patients compared with controls. The literature on depression and immunity is reviewed and the clinical implications of our findings are discussed.