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BMC Psychiatry
Published in: BMC Psychiatry 1/2012

Open Access 01-12-2012 | Research article

Elevated levels of serum IL-5 are associated with an increased likelihood of major depressive disorder

Authors: Antti-Pekka Elomaa, Leo Niskanen, Karl-Heinz Herzig, Heimo Viinamäki, Jukka Hintikka, Heli Koivumaa-Honkanen, Kirsi Honkalampi, Minna Valkonen-Korhonen, Ilkka T Harvima, Soili M Lehto

Published in: BMC Psychiatry | Issue 1/2012

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Abstract

Background

Inflammatory mediators in both the peripheral circulation and central nervous system (CNS) are dysregulated in major depressive disorder (MDD). Nevertheless, relatively little is known about the role of the T-helper (Th)-2 effector cytokines interleukin (IL)-5 and IL-13 in MDD.

Methods

We examined the serum levels of these cytokines and a Th-1 comparison cytokine, interferon (IFN)-γ, in 116 individuals (MDD, n = 58; controls, n = 58).

Results

In our basic multivariate model controlling for the effects of potential confounders on the associations between MDD and the examined cytokines, each 1-unit increase in the serum IL-5 level increased the likelihood of belonging to the MDD group by 76% (OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.03-2.99, p = 0.04; model covariates: age, gender, marital status, daily smoking and alcohol use). The likelihood further increased in models additionally controlling for the effects of the use of antidepressants and NSAIDS, and a diagnosis of asthma. No such associations were detected with regard to IL-13 (OR 1.08, 95% CI 0.96-1.22, p = 0.22) or IFN-γ (OR 1.02, 95% CI 0.99-1.05, p = 0.23).

Conclusions

Elevated levels of IL-5, which uses the neural plasticity-related RAS GTPase-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Ras-ERK) pathway to mediate its actions in the central nervous system (CNS), could be one of the factors underlying the depression-related changes in CNS plasticity.
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Metadata
Title
Elevated levels of serum IL-5 are associated with an increased likelihood of major depressive disorder
Authors
Antti-Pekka Elomaa
Leo Niskanen
Karl-Heinz Herzig
Heimo Viinamäki
Jukka Hintikka
Heli Koivumaa-Honkanen
Kirsi Honkalampi
Minna Valkonen-Korhonen
Ilkka T Harvima
Soili M Lehto
Publication date
01-12-2012
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Psychiatry / Issue 1/2012
Electronic ISSN: 1471-244X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-244X-12-2

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