RESUMEN
The pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1α, IL-6 and TNF-α are associated with major depressive disorder, psychological distress, cardiovascular health and obesity. However, there is limited research that has examined multiple associations between these variables, particularly among individuals with major depressive disorder who are treatment free, in comparison with a control cohort, and including analyses of sex differences. In this study, data were analysed from 60 individuals with major depressive disorder and 60 controls, including plasma IL-1α, IL-6 and TNF-α, adiposity measures (body mass index, waist circumference), cardiovascular health indices (blood pressure, heart rate) and psychological symptoms (depressive severity, anxiety, hostility, stress). The cytokines were compared by group and sex and correlated with measures of adiposity, cardiovascular health indices and psychological health. Plasma IL-1α and IL-6 were higher in major depressive disorder group versus control, but with a sex interaction for IL-6, with this group difference only among females. TNF-α did not differ between groups. IL-1α and IL-6 correlated with depressive severity, anxiety, hostility and stress, whereas TNF-α correlated only with anxiety and hostility. Psychopathology was associated with IL-1α in males only and with IL-6 and TNF-α in females only. None of the cytokines correlated with body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure or heart rate. The result of group by sex interaction for IL-6 and sex-specific associations between pro-inflammatory cytokines and psychometrics could be aetiologically important in depression interventions and treatments for females versus males, warranting further investigation.
Asunto(s)
Citocinas , Trastorno Depresivo Mayor , Humanos , Femenino , Masculino , Factor de Necrosis Tumoral alfa , Interleucina-6RESUMEN
Background: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is linked to poor physical health including an increased risk of developing cardiometabolic disease (CMD), yet the underlying physiology of this relationship is not clear. One pathophysiological mechanism that may underlie this relationship is neuroendocrine dysregulation, including that of the hormone prolactin. Prolactin has a role in the regulation of stress, and it is linked to anxiety, hostility, and weight gain, which are all implicated in MDD and increased CMD risk. However, little research has examined plasma prolactin in association with psychological symptoms of MDD or biometric indices of CMD risk. Method: Plasma samples of 120 participants (n â= â60 meeting DSM-5 criteria for MDD and n â= â60 control; age and sex matched) were analysed to assess prolactin concentration. Biometric data (BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure and heart rate) were collected, and participants completed the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS). Results: Plasma prolactin was higher in participants with MDD versus controls (8.79 â± â5.16 âng/mL and 7.03 â± â4.78 âng/mL, respectively; F â= â4.528, p â= â0.035) and among females versus males (9.14 â± â5.57 âng/mL and 6.31 â± â3.70 âng/mL, respectively; F â= â9.157, p â= â0.003). Prolactin was correlated with several psychological symptoms including anxiety, hostility and somatization, and with heart rate, but not with any other biometric measures. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that neuroendocrine dysregulation in MDD may extend to the hormone prolactin, with prolactin being specifically associated with a subset of related psychometric and cardiovascular measures.