Prevalence and associated factors of obesity in patients with major depressive disorder at different ages of onset.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) and obesity are two serious public health problems. Although there have been some research on both, there have few studies on differences in obesity among MDD patients at different ages of onset. The study aims to evaluate the prevalence and factors associated with obesity in MDD patients at different ages of onset. This study totally recruited 1718 first-episode drug-naive MDD patients aged from 18 to 60 years. All subjects were divided into two subgroups: early adulthood onset (EAO, 18-45 years) and mid-adulthood onset (MAO, 45-60 years). Clinical symptoms of patients were evaluated using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) positive subscale. Baseline parameters including body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, and hematological biochemical parameters were assessed to investigate the association between these parameters and weight gain risk. The percentages of overweight and obesity patients with MDD in EAO group were 54.4% and 4.1%, respectively, and the percentages of overweight and obesity patients with MDD in MAO group were 60.4% and 2.8%, respectively. MDD patients in the MAO group had a longer duration of illness and higher scores in HAMD, HAMA, and PANSS positive subscale. They also had higher levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), anti-thyroglobulin (TgAb), fasting blood glucose (FBG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), systolic and diastolic blood pressures (SBP and DBP) levels. BMI did not differ significantly between the two groups. In the EAO group, statistically significant differences were found among normal weight, overweight and obese group in duration of illness, age of onset, TSH, TgAb, thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb), free thyroxine (FT4), TC, triglycerides (TG), SBP and DBP. The TSH, TgTb and SBP were identified as risk factors for weight gain. In the MAO group, statistically significant differences were found among normal weight, overweight and obese group in TSH and FBG. The two indicators were identified as risk factors for weight gain. There were no significant differences in the weight of MDD patients at different ages of onset, while the factors that could potentially lead to obesity did show some differences.

2-DG Re-Normalized IFN-γ Production in T Cells Excluding TEMRA Cells from Patients with Aplastic Anemia.

Aplastic anemia (AA) is a T cell immune mediated autoimmune disease in which cytokines, particularly IFN-γ are pathogenesis factors. Glucose metabolism is closely related to effector functions of activated T cells, such as IFN-γ production. The characteristics of glucose metabolism and whether interfering with glucose metabolism could affect T cells produce IFN-γ ability in AA patients remains unknown. In this study, we examined the characteristics of glucose metabolism in T cells from AA patients and the effects of the glucose metabolism inhibitor 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) on the ability of T cell production IFN-γ. Our data demonstrated abnormal glucose metabolism in stimulated T cells from AA patients, mainly reflected by increased glucose uptake and lactate secretion. In addition, EM and TEMRA cells exhibit higher glucose uptake in patients with AA compared with healthy individuals. Moreover, the frequency of IFN-γ+ was reduced by 2-DG in T cell from AA patients. Unexpectedly, 2-DG re-normalized the frequency of IFN-γ+ in other T cell subsets, except for in the TEMRA. In conclusion, our study reveals for the first time the existence of enhanced aerobic glycolysis in T cells from AA patients, and different T cell subsets exhibit different extent glucose uptake requirements. Aerobic glycolysis regulation may be a potential therapeutic strategy for aberrant T cell immunity. Moreover, TEMRA may have specific metabolic abnormalities, which should receive more attention in future targeted immune metabolism research.

Sex differences in correlates of suicide attempts in Chinese Han first-episode and drug-naïve major depressive disorder with comorbid subclinical hypothyroidism: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate sex differences in risk factors for suicide attempts in first-episode and drug naive (FEDN) major depressive disorder (MDD) with comorbid subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH). METHODS: A total of 1034 FEDN MDD patients with comorbid SCH were enrolled. The Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) positive subscale were used to assess patients' symptoms. Thyroid hormone levels and metabolic parameters were measured. RESULTS: MDD patients with SCH had a significantly higher risk of suicide attempts than those without SCH (25.4% vs. 12.2%). Logistic regression showed that HAMA score, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels, and thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) levels were significantly associated with an increased risk for suicide attempts in both male and female MDD patients comorbid SCH, while low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) was significantly associated with an increased risk for suicide attempts only in male patients, HAMD score and systolic blood pressure were significantly associated with an increased risk for suicide attempts only in female patients. CONCLUSION: SCH comorbidities may increase suicide attempts in MDD patients. Our results showed significant sex differences in clinical and metabolic factors associated with suicide attempts among FEDN MDD patients with comorbid SCH, highlighting appropriate sex-based preventive interventions are needed.

Higher CD4+CD40+ T cells (Th40 cells) associate with systemic lupus erythematosus activity.

The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of CD4+CD40+ T cells (Th40 cells) in Chinese systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. Flow cytometry was used to identify the percentage of Th40 cells in peripheral blood from 24 SLE patients and 24 healthy individuals and the level of IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IFN-r, and TNF-α in serum (22 cases) from the SLE patients. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2000) was used to assess the SLE disease active state. The percentage of Th40 cells in T cells from SLE patients (19.37 ± 17.43) (%) was significantly higher than that from healthy individuals (4.52 ± 3.16) (%) (P < 0.001). The percentage of Th40 cells was also positively associated with SLEDAI-2000 (P = 0.001) and negatively associated with complement C3 (P = 0.007). The Th40 cell percentage was different in SLE patients with different organs involved. The Th40 cell percentage in SLE patients with lupus serositis (29.29 ± 22.19) was significantly higher than that in patients without serositis (13.41 ± 10.79; P = 0.040), and the percentage in SLE patients with lupus pneumonia involvement (29.11 ± 11.88) was significantly higher than that in patients without lupus pneumonia (16.80 ± 17.99; P = 0.043). After 4 weeks treatment, the Th40 cell percentage decreased significantly (P = 0.005). However, Th40 cell expression was not related to cytokines (IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IFN-r, and TNF-α; P > 0.05). A significantly higher percentage of Th40 cells was found in SLE patients, and the Th40 cell percentage was associated with SLE activity. Thus, Th40 cells may be used as a predictor for SLE disease activity and severity and therapeutic efficacy.

Increased IFN-γ+ and TNF-α+ mucosal-associated invariant T cells in patients with aplastic anemia.

BACKGROUND: Aplastic anemia (AA) is known as an autoimmune disease in which T cell activation is aberrant. It has been reported that unconventional T cells, mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, play an important role in several autoimmune diseases, but it is unclear if they are involved in AA. METHODS: In this study, we for the first time analyzed the proportions, phenotypes, and cytokine properties of MAIT cells in AA by flow cytometry. RESULTS: We found that the percentage of circulating MAIT cells was generally higher for CD3+ , CD8+ , and CD8- T cells in AA patients compared with healthy individuals. Moreover, the percentage of IL-18Rα-, NKG2D-, IFN-γ-, and TNF-α- positive MAIT cells was also significantly higher in AA patients. In addition, the percentage of IFN-γ+ CD3+ or TNF-α+ CD8- MAIT cells had a significant negative correlation with the absolute neutrophil count. CONCLUSIONS: We present the first observation of MAIT cells in patients with AA. MAIT cells are associated with a higher frequency of IFN-γ and TNF-α production and may contribute to the pathogenesis of AA.