Clin Psychopharmacol Neurosci.  2017 Nov;15(4):337-342. 10.9758/cpn.2017.15.4.337.

Increased Serum G Protein-coupled Estrogen Receptor 1 Levels and Its Diagnostic Value in Drug Naïve Patients with Major Depressive Disorder

• Findikli E
• Kurutas EB
• Camkurt MA
• Karaaslan
• Izci F
• Fındıklı HA
• KardaÅŸ S
• Dag B
• Altun H

• KMID: 2396304
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.9758/cpn.2017.15.4.337

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The facts that depression is more prevalent in females than in males and females are exposed to depression more commonly during certain hormonal fluctuating periods indicate the role of sex hormones in physiopathology. Estrogen acts over estrogen receptors alpha and beta and recently identified G protein-coupled estrogen receptor 1 (GPER1). The present study aimed, for the first time, to evaluate serum GPER1 levels in drug-naïve major depressive disorder (MDD) patients.
METHODS
The study included 56 newly diagnosed drug-naïve MDD patients aged between 18 and 50 years and 42 age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers. Medical history was obtained and physical examinations, laboratory tests, and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) were performed. The serum GPER1 levels were measured.
RESULTS
The HAM-D score was significantly higher in the MDD patients than in the controls. The GPER1 level was significantly higher in the MDD patients than in the controls. A positive correlation was found with GPER1 levels and depression scores. The receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value as 82.1%, 90.5%, 92.0%, and 79.2%, respectively, for the presence of depression, when the serum GPER1 value was ≥0.16.
CONCLUSION
This study demonstrated significantly higher serum GPER1 levels in the MDD patients than in the controls, a positive correlation was found between GPER1 levels and depression scores and serum GPER1 level was valuable in predicting the presence of depression.

Keyword

Serum G protein-coupled estrogen receptor 1; Major depressive disorder; Estrogens; Diagnostic value

MeSH Terms

Anxiety
Depression
Depressive Disorder, Major*
Estrogen Receptor alpha*
Estrogens*
Female
Gonadal Steroid Hormones
Healthy Volunteers
Humans
Male
Physical Examination
ROC Curve
Sensitivity and Specificity
Estrogen Receptor alpha
Estrogens
Gonadal Steroid Hormones