Elevated IL-17 and TGF-β Serum Levels: A Positive Correlation between T-helper 17 Cell-Related Pro-Inflammatory Responses with Major Depressive Disorder

• Published in: Basic and clinical neuroscience Vol. 7; no. 2; pp. 137 - 142
• Main Authors: Davami, M., Baharlou, R., Ahmadi Vasmehjani, A., Ghanizadeh, A., Keshtkar, M., Dezhkam, I., Atashzar, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Iran Negah Scientific Publisher 01.04.2016; Iranian Neuroscience Society; Iran University of Medical Sciences
• Subjects: Autoimmune diseases; Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; Immune system; Inflammatory response; Interleukin 17; Interleukin 21; Major depressive disorder; Mental depression; Research Papers; Serum levels; Transforming growth factor-b; Transforming growth factor-beta; Inflammatory response; Transforming growth factor-beta; Interleukin-17; interleukin-21; Major depressive disorder
• ISSN: 2228-7442; 2008-126X; 2228-7442
• DOI: 10.15412/J.BCN.03070207

Depression is a mental disorder that highly associated with immune system. Therefore, this study compares the serum concentrations of IL-21, IL-17, and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) between patients with major depressive disorder and healthy controls. Blood samples were collected from 41 patients with major depressive disorder and 40 healthy age-matched controls with no history of malignancies or autoimmune disorders. The subjects were interviewed face to face according to DSM-IV diagnostic criteria. Depression score was measured using completed Beck Depression Inventory in both groups. The serum concentrations of IL-21, IL-17, and TGF-β were assessed using ELISA. The mean score of Beck Depression score in the patient and control groups was 35.4±5.5 and 11.1±2.3. IL-17 serum concentrations in the patients and the control group were 10.03±0.6 and 7.6±0.6 pg/mL, respectively (P=0.0002). TGF-β level in the patients group was significantly higher than compare to the control group; 336.7±20.19 vs. 174.8±27.20 pg/mL, (P<0.0001). However, the level of IL-21 was not statistically different between the two groups 84.30±4.57 vs. 84.12±4.15 pg/mL (P>0.05). Considering pro-inflammatory cytokines, current results support the association of inflammatory response and depressive disorder. So, it seems that pro-inflammatory factors profile can be used as indicator in following of depression progress and its treatment impacts.