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A further exploration of the relationships between immune parameters and the HPA-axis activity in depressed patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

M. Maes ,
E. Bosmans ,
E. Suy ,
B. Minner  and
J. Raus
M. Maes*
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Centre, Munsterbilzen; Dr Willems Institute, University Campus of Diepenbeek, Belgium
E. Bosmans
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Centre, Munsterbilzen; Dr Willems Institute, University Campus of Diepenbeek, Belgium
E. Suy
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Centre, Munsterbilzen; Dr Willems Institute, University Campus of Diepenbeek, Belgium
B. Minner
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Centre, Munsterbilzen; Dr Willems Institute, University Campus of Diepenbeek, Belgium
J. Raus
Affiliation:
Psychiatric Centre, Munsterbilzen; Dr Willems Institute, University Campus of Diepenbeek, Belgium
*
1Address for correspondence: Dr M. Maes, Psychiatric Centre, St Jozef, Abdijstraat, 2, 3751 Munsterbilzen, Belgium.
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Synopsis

In order to investigate the relationship between the immune apparatus and the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA)-axis activity in depressed patients, we measured in vitro lymphocyte responses to the mitogens Phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), Pokeweed (PWM) and Concanavalin A (Con A) and 8 a.m. baseline cortisol values in plasma, free cortisol excretion in 24 h urine (UFC), basal and post-dexamethasone βendorphin values. Major depressed patients with melancholia/psychotic features exhibited a significantly lower mitogen-induced blast transformation as compared to minor and simple major depressed patients. The lymphocyte responses to the three mitogens were significantly inversely related to baseline cortisol values and postdexamethasone β-endorphin values. The proliferative capacity of lymphocytes to stimulation with PHA and PWM was significantly and positively related to UFC excretion. Up to 45% of the variance in the immune responses to the mitogens was explained by the baseline cortisol, post-dexamethasone β-endorphin and UFC values.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 21 , Issue 2 , May 1991 , pp. 313 - 320
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1991

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