Plasma concentrations of interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, soluble interleukin-2 receptor and tumor necrosis factor α of depressed patients in Japan

There are a number of investigations which indicate the important relationship between depression and cytokines. In this study, we investigated plasma interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-6, soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha of depressed patients whose clinical evaluation was performed by the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) and the Profile of Mood States (POMS). They were compared with those of the control subjects, and before and after treatment with antidepressants. Before the treatment, plasma IL-1 beta, IL-6, sIL-2R and TNF-alpha of the patients were not significantly different from those of the control subjects, sIL-2R was positively correlated with the POMS-tension-anxiety subscale and tended to have a positive correlation with HAM-D. After pharmacotherapy, TNF-alpha levels of the depressed patients increased, without any relationship between the change in the HAM-D or the POMS and change in TNF-alpha. These results suggest that the plasma sIL-2R concentration is associated with mood state, and that the plasma TNF-alpha concentration is increased after pharmacotherapy in Japanese depressed patients. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG. Basel.