[Immune activation in endogenous depression]

Abstract

Serum concentration of three positive acute phase proteins: C-reactive protein (CRP), alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP), alpha-1-antychymotrypsin (ACT) were measured in 81 patients with endogenous depression during acute episode and in 20 matched controls. Determination was also made of glycosylation types of AGP and ACT as well as of the concentration of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and its soluble receptor (sIL-6R). In patients with depression, the mean values of all parameters studied except for AGP glycosylation were significantly elevated compared with the group of control healthy persons, what may suggest an excessive immune activation in these patients in the form of acute phase response. Particularly intense were the indies of the immune activation in the subgroup of patients (1/3 of population studied) having pathologically elevated coefficient of AGP glycosylation (Type I glycosylation). Patients with Type I glycosylation had longer duration of illness and were characterized by recent depressive episode of greater severity and chronicity as well as refractoriness to pharmacological treatment. The results obtained corroborate the existence of excessive immune activation during acute depressive episode and suggest the possible role of this phenomenon in the pathogenesis and course of affective illnesses.