J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc.  2006 Mar;45(2):117-127.

The Pathophysiological Role of Cytokines in Suicide Attempters with Major Depressive Disorder

• Kim SJ
• Kim YK

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Cytokines are known to play an important role in the pathogenesis and the pathophysiology of major depressive disorders. However, the role of cytokines in suicide in major depression has not been explored thoroughly. The purpose of this study is to identify the roles of cytokine interaction of Th1, Th2, Th3 cytokines in suicidal depressive patients.
METHODS
110 major depressive patients (29 depressive patients without suicidal ideation, 32 depressive patients with suicidal ideation, and 49 depressive patients with suicide attempts) diagnosed by DSM-IV criteria were included in this study. The severity of suicide ideations and attempts was measured by Lethality of Suicide Attempt Rating Scale (LSARS) and Risk-Rescue Rating (RRR) system. Cytokine productions (TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-4, and IL-6) upon mitogen stimulation were measured by ELISA in a whole blood assay. TGF-beta1 were measured in plasma by ELISA.
RESULTS
There were no significant differences in age, sex and BMI among the three groups. IL-2 and IL-6 levels were significantly lower in the suicide attempt group than other two groups while TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-4 and TGF-beta1 did not differ among the groups. Significant positive correlations between TNF-alpha/IL-4, IL-6/IL-4, IFN-gamma/IL-4 and IL-6/TGF-beta1 ratio and LSARS scores in suicidal patients were found. In addition, there were significant correlations between TNF-alpha/IL-4 or IL-6/IL-4 and RRR scores in suicidal patients.
CONCLUSION
These results indicate that decrease in Th1 cytokines may be associated with suicidal behavior in major depression. These findings suggest that cytokines may play a role in the pathogenesis of suicidal depression.

Keyword

Cytokine; Depression; Suicide; Risk-rescue rating; Lethality of suicide attempt rating scale

MeSH Terms

Cytokines*
Depression
Depressive Disorder, Major*
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Humans
Interleukin-2
Interleukin-4
Interleukin-6
Plasma
Suicidal Ideation
Suicide*
Transforming Growth Factor beta1
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
Cytokines
Interleukin-2
Interleukin-4
Interleukin-6
Transforming Growth Factor beta1
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha