Immune activation in non-treated suicidal major depression

In the following study we have analyzed cytokine secretion of T-cells of su icidal and non-suicidal depressed patients and healthy controls. It was fou nd that T-cells of suicidal depressed patients have Th1 characteristics, wh ile T-cells of non-suicidal depressed patients have Th2 characteristics. Th l environment is associated with most of autoimmune diseases. It is thus sp eculated that Thl activation in suicidal depression may reflect a unique fo rm of autoimmune suicide. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All r ights reserved.