CYTOKINE PRODUCTION IN MAJOR DEPRESSED-PATIENTS BEFORE AND AFTER CLOMIPRAMINE TREATMENT

Cytokine production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was a ssessed in 10 major depressed patients (5 men and 5 women) before and after 4 weeks of clomipramine treatment and in age- and gender-matched healthy controls. A significant reduction in interleukin-1B (IL-1B), interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interleukin-3-like activity (IL-3-LA) was obs erved in untreated depressed patients when compared to controls. IL-1B and IL-3-LA synthesis was significantly increased after drug treatmen t. The suppression of cytokine production by PBMC in depressed patient s may be attributed to the depression per se, or it may be related to depression-associated hyperactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adre nal axis. The mode of interaction between depression and cellular immu ne function and the mediators responsible for the reduced cytokine pro duction need to be studied further.