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Serotonin antibodies in relation to immune activation in major depression
Author(s) -
Sluzewska A.,
Samborski W.,
Sobieska M.,
Klein R.,
Bosmans E.,
Rybakowski J. K.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
human psychopharmacology: clinical and experimental
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.461
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1099-1077
pISSN - 0885-6222
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-1077(199709/10)12:5<453::aid-hup888>3.0.co;2-4
Subject(s) - serotonin , serotonergic , immune system , depression (economics) , antibody , antidepressant , medicine , ganglioside , endocrinology , immunology , acute phase protein , chemistry , inflammation , receptor , biochemistry , economics , hippocampus , macroeconomics
Serum antibodies against serotonin and gangliosides, the serum concentration of serotonin in addition to indicators of immune activation, such as acute phase proteins (apps) and interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), were investigated in 20 major depressed patients and 32 normal controls. Antibody‐positive sera against serotonin and gangliosides were increased in patients with major depression in comparison to normal controls. Serum concentrations of serotonin were significantly lower in depressed patients. These changes were accompanied by acute phase response characterized by elevated concentration of apps and IL‐6. Compared with patients showing positive response to antidepressant treatment, patients with treatment‐resistant depression (TRD) had antibodies against serotonin and gangliosides that were twice as high, as well as a significantly higher IL‐6 concentration. The results suggest that alterations in the serotoninergic system may be related to immune activation in major depression and especially in treatment‐resistant depression. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.