Adiposity and Smoking Mediate the Relationship Between Depression History and Inflammation Among Young Adults

Overview

Journal Int J Behav Med

Publisher Informa Healthcare

Date 2022 Feb 10

PMID 35141821

Authors

Xiao Yang

Rhobert W Evans

Charles J George

Karen A Matthews

Maria Kovacs

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Depression is associated with inflammation, but the mechanisms underlying this association are unclear. We examined adiposity and smoking as potential pathways through which childhood depression may lead to an elevated inflammatory status among young adults.

Methods: The sample included 294 subjects with histories of depression (probands), 270 never-depressed siblings of probands (high-risk siblings), and 169 controls. C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) were assessed in serum samples. An adiposity score was computed from body mass index and waist circumference. Smoking behavior was evaluated during an interview. Mixed-effects models were used to test whether adiposity and smoking mediate the relationship between depression and inflammation.

Results: Probands (p = .004), but not siblings (p = .071), had higher levels of sICAM-1 compared to controls. However, depression history and risk status had no direct effects on CRP (ps > .13) or IL-6 (ps > .16). Importantly, adiposity indirectly mediated the effect of group (probands vs. controls; siblings vs. controls) on all three inflammatory markers. Smoking indirectly mediated the effect of group (probands vs. controls; siblings vs. controls) on sICAM-1 only.

Conclusions: Among young adults, the adverse inflammatory consequences of depression history are significant for sICAM-1. Adiposity and smoking are pathways through which depression can indirectly impact several inflammatory markers, suggesting possible preventive interventions to improve the immunologic and cardiovascular health of depression-prone individuals.

Citing Articles

Neuroinflammation Profiling of Brain Cytokines Following Repeated Blast Exposure.

Heyburn L, Batuure A, Wilder D, Long J, Sajja V Int J Mol Sci. 2023; 24(16).

PMID: 37628746 PMC: 10454588. DOI: 10.3390/ijms241612564.

References

Howren M, Lamkin D, Suls J . Associations of depression with C-reactive protein, IL-1, and IL-6: a meta-analysis. Psychosom Med. 2009; 71(2):171-86. DOI: 10.1097/PSY.0b013e3181907c1b. View

Kiecolt-Glaser J, Derry H, Fagundes C . Inflammation: depression fans the flames and feasts on the heat. Am J Psychiatry. 2015; 172(11):1075-91. PMC: 6511978. DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2015.15020152. View

Elovainio M, Keltikangas-Jarvinen L, Pulkki-Raback L, Kivimaki M, Puttonen S, Viikari L . Depressive symptoms and C-reactive protein: the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study. Psychol Med. 2006; 36(6):797-805. DOI: 10.1017/S0033291706007574. View

Ford D, Erlinger T . Depression and C-reactive protein in US adults: data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Arch Intern Med. 2004; 164(9):1010-4. DOI: 10.1001/archinte.164.9.1010. View

Copeland W, Shanahan L, Worthman C, Angold A, Costello E . Cumulative depression episodes predict later C-reactive protein levels: a prospective analysis. Biol Psychiatry. 2011; 71(1):15-21. PMC: 3586231. DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2011.09.023. View

Janicki Deverts D, Cohen S, DiLillo V, Lewis C, Kiefe C, Whooley M . Depressive symptoms, race, and circulating C-reactive protein: the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study. Psychosom Med. 2010; 72(8):734-41. PMC: 3037796. DOI: 10.1097/PSY.0b013e3181ec4b98. View

Matthews K, Schott L, Bromberger J, Cyranowski J, Everson-Rose S, Sowers M . Are there bi-directional associations between depressive symptoms and C-reactive protein in mid-life women?. Brain Behav Immun. 2009; 24(1):96-101. PMC: 2844108. DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2009.08.005. View

Motivala S, Sarfatti A, Olmos L, Irwin M . Inflammatory markers and sleep disturbance in major depression. Psychosom Med. 2005; 67(2):187-94. DOI: 10.1097/01.psy.0000149259.72488.09. View

Yang K, Xie G, Zhang Z, Wang C, Li W, Zhou W . Levels of serum interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1beta, tumour necrosis factor-alpha and leptin and their correlation in depression. Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2007; 41(3):266-73. DOI: 10.1080/00048670601057759. View

10.

Miller G, Cole S . Clustering of depression and inflammation in adolescents previously exposed to childhood adversity. Biol Psychiatry. 2012; 72(1):34-40. PMC: 3493164. DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2012.02.034. View

11.

Schnoor M, Alcaide P, Voisin M, van Buul J . Crossing the Vascular Wall: Common and Unique Mechanisms Exploited by Different Leukocyte Subsets during Extravasation. Mediators Inflamm. 2015; 2015:946509. PMC: 4629053. DOI: 10.1155/2015/946509. View

12.

Jones D, True H, Patel J . Leukocyte Trafficking in Cardiovascular Disease: Insights from Experimental Models. Mediators Inflamm. 2017; 2017:9746169. PMC: 5390637. DOI: 10.1155/2017/9746169. View

13.

Miller G, Freedland K, Carney R, Stetler C, Banks W . Pathways linking depression, adiposity, and inflammatory markers in healthy young adults. Brain Behav Immun. 2003; 17(4):276-85. DOI: 10.1016/s0889-1591(03)00057-6. View

14.

Chaiton M, Cohen J, OLoughlin J, Rehm J . A systematic review of longitudinal studies on the association between depression and smoking in adolescents. BMC Public Health. 2009; 9:356. PMC: 2758872. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-9-356. View

15.

Luppino F, de Wit L, Bouvy P, Stijnen T, Cuijpers P, Penninx B . Overweight, obesity, and depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2010; 67(3):220-9. DOI: 10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2010.2. View

16.

Rocha V, Libby P . Obesity, inflammation, and atherosclerosis. Nat Rev Cardiol. 2009; 6(6):399-409. DOI: 10.1038/nrcardio.2009.55. View

17.

Thakore J, Richards P, Reznek R, Martin A, Dinan T . Increased intra-abdominal fat deposition in patients with major depressive illness as measured by computed tomography. Biol Psychiatry. 1997; 41(11):1140-2. DOI: 10.1016/S0006-3223(97)85394-2. View

18.

Jequier E . Leptin signaling, adiposity, and energy balance. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2002; 967:379-88. DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2002.tb04293.x. View

19.

Strzelak A, Ratajczak A, Adamiec A, Feleszko W . Tobacco Smoke Induces and Alters Immune Responses in the Lung Triggering Inflammation, Allergy, Asthma and Other Lung Diseases: A Mechanistic Review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018; 15(5). PMC: 5982072. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15051033. View

20.

Lee J, Taneja V, Vassallo R . Cigarette smoking and inflammation: cellular and molecular mechanisms. J Dent Res. 2011; 91(2):142-9. PMC: 3261116. DOI: 10.1177/0022034511421200. View