IMMUNOGLOBULIN PRODUCTION IN-VITRO IN MAJOR DEPRESSION - A PILOT-STUDY ON THE MODULATING ACTION OF ENDOGENOUS CORTISOL

To investigate the possible differential sensitivity of hydrocortisone (HCO) on immunoglobulin (Ig) production in depression in relation to endogenous cortisol levels, blood was obtained at 8 AM and 4 PM from 1 0 inpatients with major depression according to DSM-III-II criteria an d 10 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects. Peripheral blood lymphocyt es were cultured in the presence of graded concentrations (10(-9)-10(- 5M)) of HCO to study the effect on immunoglobulin (IgG and IgM) synthe sis. In addition, peripheral blood lymphocytes were cultured in the pr esence of pokeweed mitogen (PWM) to study any additional effect of gra ded concentrations of HCO (10(-9)-10(-5M)) on IgG and IgM synthesis, M ean plasma cortisol levels at both time points were higher in patients compared to controls. HCO-preferentially at concentrations of 10(-8)- 10(-6) molar-stimulated IgG and IgM production in controls, except for IgM production in the 8 AM samples, when the cells were cultured in t he absence of PWM. Under these culture conditions, HCO stimulated IgG but not IgM synthesis in depressed patients. PWM-driven IgG and IgM sy nthesis in controls was stimulated by HCO in both the 8 AM and the 4 P M samples. In patients PWM driven IgG synthesis was stimulated by HCO in the 8 AM bur not in the 4 PM samples. PWM-stimulated IgM synthesis was not augmented by HCO in depressed patients. We conclude that a dif ferential sensitivity to the effects of HCO exists in in vitro IgG and IgM synthesis between depressed patients and controls. Furthermore, w e suggest that immunocompetent cells of depressed patients possess cor ticosteroid-resistant properties.