THE EFFECT OF CLINICAL OUTCOME ON PLATELET G-PROTEINS OF MAJOR DEPRESSED-PATIENTS

Platelet G protein subunits (G alpha i2, G alpha q and G beta) were me asured in 15 non-treated depressed patients (recurrent major depressio n) and 15 age-and sex-matched healthy controls by using the Western im munoblot method. The depression severity was measured by the AMDP depr ession rating scale before start of treatment. The AMDP score ranged b etween 12 and 44. Patients were then treated with different antidepres sant drugs (ATD) for 1 month, after which G protein and depression wer e reassessed. Results indicated that drug-free depressed patients disp layed increased levels of G proteins subunits, in comparison to health y controls. Antidepressant drug administration resulted in decrease of depression severity but only seven patients showed a net response to drugs (AMDP depression score less than 12), These drug-responding pati ents have also reduced G protein levels, while patients without signif icant improvement continued to display either the same levels of G pro teins or higher, whatever the class of the drug administered. These re sults suggest that depression is associated to increase in G protein s ubunit levels and that the clinical outcome seemed to be the determini ng factor in further decrease occurring in G protein levels. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V./ECNP.