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. 2018 Nov 29;13(11):e0208238.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0208238. eCollection 2018.

Metabolomics approach in the investigation of depression biomarkers in pharmacologically induced immune-related depression

Andreas Baranyi  1 , Andreas Meinitzer  2 , Hans-Bernd Rothenhäusler  1 , Omid Amouzadeh-Ghadikolai  3 , Dirk V Lewinski  4 , Robert J Breitenecker  5 , Markus Herrmann  2
Affiliations

Metabolomics approach in the investigation of depression biomarkers in pharmacologically induced immune-related depression

Andreas Baranyi et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to identify previously unrecognised biological pathways and biomarkers that might expand the inflammatory hypothesis of depression.

Methods: Broad metabolomics analyses in plasma samples from 31 chronic hepatitis C-infected patients with and without immune-related depression were carried out using the Absolute IDQ p180 kit-a targeted metabolomics approach of combined direct flow injection and liquid chromatography that measures acylcarnitines, amino acids, biogenic amines, glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids, and sugars.

Results: The measurements showed that the average concentration of the branched-chain amino acid isoleucine was significantly lower in depressive HCV patients in comparison to non-depressive HCV patients [depression group: Median 51.35 (43.4-60.2 μmol/L) vs. Median 62.10 (38.4-81.7 μmol/L); U = -2.958; p = 0.002]. All other amino acids, acylcarnitines, biogenic amines, glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids, sugars, liver enzymes and thyroid levels showed no statistically significant differences.

Conclusions: The results of the present study suggest that the branched-chain amino acid isoleucine might play a role in the pathophysiology of immune-related major depression, which expands existing knowledge about inflammatory hypothesis of depression.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

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