M. Maes et al., PLASMA SOLUBLE INTERLEUKIN-2-RECEPTOR IN DEPRESSION - RELATIONSHIPS TO PLASMA NEOPTERIN AND SERUM IL-2 CONCENTRATIONS AND HPA-AXIS ACTIVITY, European psychiatry, 10(8), 1995, pp. 397-403
The present study examined the plasma concentration of the soluble int
erleukin-2-receptor (sIL-2R) in depressed subjects in relation to hypo
thalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis function and plasma neopterin an
d serum n-2 concentrations. Plasma sIL-2R concentration was significan
tly higher in depressed patients (n = 47) than in controls (n = 19). T
here were no significant correlations between plasma sIL-2R and severi
ty of illness. In the depressed subjects, there was a highly significa
nt relationship between plasma sIL-2R and neopterin concentrations. De
pressed patients with pathologically increased plasma neopterin levels
had significantly higher plasma sIL-2R values than those with normal
serum neopterin. There were no significant relationships between plasm
a sIL-2R and indices of HPA-axis function in depression. There was no
significant effect of dexamethasone administration on sIL-2R levels. S
ignificantly more depressed subjects had measurable serum n-2 levels t
han normal controls. Our data support the notion that a moderate activ
ation of cell-mediated immunity may play a role in the pathophysiology
of depression.