Cerebrospinal cytokine levels in patients with acute depression

There is increasing evidence for an association between the alteration of c ytokine concentrations in blood and the pathophysiology of depressive disor ders. Studies in humans have not investigated CSF cytokine concentrations a nd their relationship to depressive disorders. This study reports on the as sociation of the CSF concentration of proinflammatory cytokines, IL-1 beta, IL-6 and TNF alpha, and major depressive disorders. CSF samples were obtai ned from 13 hospitalized patients with acute unmedicated severe depression and were compared with 10 control subjects. Compared to the control group, the depressed patient group had higher CSF concentrations of IL-1 beta, low er IL-6 and no change in TNF alpha. A positive correlation was found betwee n serum IL-1 beta and the severity of depression. These results indicate a unique profile for CSF proinflammatory cytokines in acute depression. These findings merit further investigation and if replicated may possibly offer immunological treatment options for depression.