Prolonged desipramine treatment increases the production of interleukin-10, an anti-inflammatory cytokine, in C57BL/6 mice subjected to the chronic mild stress model of depression

Background Depression is associated with activation of the inflammatory res ponse system (IRS). In humans, antidepressants significantly increase the p roduction of interleukin-10 (IL-10), a negative immunoregulatory cytokine. The aims of the present study were to examine the effects of desipramine, a tricyclic antidepressant, on the IRS in C57BL/6 mice with and without expo sure to chronic mild stress (CMS). Methods: We examined the effects of desi pramine on the cytotoxic activity of natural killer (NK) cells, the prolife rative responses of lymphocytes after stimulation with IL-1, IL-2, lipopoly saccharide (LPS), concanavaline-A (Con-A), phytohaemagglutinin-P (PHA), pok eweed mitogen (PWM), and anti-CD3 monoclonal antibodies, the production of IL-2, IL-4, IL-10 and interferon-gamma (IFN gamma) by T lymphocytes and the ability of B cells to proliferate after stimulation by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Results: Prolonged treatment of C57BL/6 mice subjected to CMS with d esipramine increases the ability of T cells to produce IL-IO and the abilit y of B cells to proliferate after stimulation with LPS; and significantly d ecreases the cytotoxic activity of NK cells and the proliferative responses of lymphocytes after stimulation with Con-A, PHA and anti-CD3 monoclonal a ntibodies. Repeated administration of desipramine to non-stressed mice incr eases the activity of T lymphocytes, lowers that of B lymphocytes, increase s the production of IL-IO by T cells and has no significant effect on the a ctivity of NK cells. Conclusion: Prolonged desipramine treatment of stresse d and non-stressed C57BL/6 mice induces an increase in the production of IL -IO, an anti-inflammatory cytokine. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All righ ts reserved.