Elevated IL-17 and TGF-β Serum Levels: A Positive Correlation Between T-helper 17 Cell-Related Pro-Inflammatory Responses with Major Depressive Disorder

Overview

Journal Basic Clin Neurosci

Specialty Neurology

Date 2016 Jun 16

PMID 27303608

Citations 75

Authors

Mohammad Hasan Davami

Rasoul Baharlou

Abbas Ahmadi Vasmehjani

Ahmad Ghanizadeh

Mitra Keshtkar

Iman Dezhkam

Mohammad Reza Atashzar

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Introduction: Depression is a mental disorder that highly associated with immune system. Therefore, this study compares the serum concentrations of IL-21, IL-17, and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) between patients with major depressive disorder and healthy controls.

Methods: Blood samples were collected from 41 patients with major depressive disorder and 40 healthy age-matched controls with no history of malignancies or autoimmune disorders. The subjects were interviewed face to face according to DSM-IV diagnostic criteria. Depression score was measured using completed Beck Depression Inventory in both groups. The serum concentrations of IL-21, IL-17, and TGF-β were assessed using ELISA.

Results: The mean score of Beck Depression score in the patient and control groups was 35.4±5.5 and 11.1±2.3. IL-17 serum concentrations in the patients and the control group were 10.03±0.6 and 7.6±0.6 pg/mL, respectively (P=0.0002). TGF-β level in the patients group was significantly higher than compare to the control group; 336.7±20.19 vs. 174.8±27.20 pg/mL, (P<0.0001). However, the level of IL-21 was not statistically different between the two groups 84.30±4.57 vs. 84.12±4.15 pg/mL (P>0.05).

Conclusion: Considering pro-inflammatory cytokines, current results support the association of inflammatory response and depressive disorder. So, it seems that pro-inflammatory factors profile can be used as indicator in following of depression progress and its treatment impacts.

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