The role of cytokines and hot flashes in perimenopausal depression

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>An imbalance in the production of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines may play a role in the pathophysiology of perimenopausal depression. The aim of this study was to examine serum levels of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), and the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, in perimenopausal women suffering from depression. Furthermore, to assess whether serum cytokine levels are associated with the presence of hot flashes or the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). We also evaluated the possible association of hot flashes and perimenopausal depression.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Serum samples from 65 perimenopausal women, 41 with depression and 24 without depression, were assessed for serum IL-6, TNFα and IL-10 by conventional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Depression was evaluated by the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D 17) and a psychiatric interview. The presence and severity of hot flashes were examined using the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Serum levels cytokines did not differ between depressed women and normal controls. Serum levels of cytokines did not change significantly in depressed women with hot flashes or in depressed women treated with SSRIs. Hot flashes were strongly associated (<it>P </it>< 0.0001) with perimenopausal depression.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The study supports the hypothesis that perimenopausal depression is not characterized by increased proinflammatory cytokines and decreased anti-inflammatory cytokines. Women with perimenopausal depression suffer from more severe and more frequent hot flashes than women without perimenopausal depression.</p

Serum Leptin Levels in Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease

Introduction: Leptin receptors have been identified in many peripheral tissues as well as the CNS including thehippocampus, which is particularly vulnerable in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Animal data shows that leptin may beimplicated in the pathophysiology of AD. The aim of this study was to examine if there is any differences in serumleptin levels between patients with AD and normal controls.Material and methods: Ninety patients with AD and 95 normal controls matched for age and gender wereincluded. The diagnosis of Alzheimer dementia was based on standard criteria provided by the ICD-10 system.Blood samples were frozen at -80oC until analysis. Leptin levels were measured using a human leptin enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit.Differences in leptin levels were assessed between the two groups using the Mann–Whitney method. Linearregression analysis was also used to adjust for characteristics shown to be associated with leptin and cognitivedecline.Results: From the patients with AD, 74 were women and 16 were men (mean age 80.53±6.03, mean body weight71.49±8.33) and from the control group 78 were women and 17 men (mean age 79.27±6.86, mean body weight70.23±6.73). Linear regression revealed that the use of antipsychotic drugs was associated with serum levels ofleptin (p<0.001). Serum leptin levels were, also, significantly lower in patients with AD compared to normalcontrols (17.89±23.59 in AD patients vs 26.82±17.77 in normal controls, p<0.0001, Mann-Whitney U).Conclusion: Our study, in accordance with the findings of studies in animal models, provides evidence that leptinmay be implicated in the pathophysiology of AD

Lack of association of acute phase response proteins with hormone levels and antidepressant medication in perimenopausal depression

Background: Major depression is associated with higher plasma levels of positive acute-phase proteins, as well as with lower plasma levels of negative acute-phase proteins. The aim of this study is to examine the levels of acute-phase response proteins and whether these levels are influenced by reproductive hormones and antidepressant medication in the perimenopausal depression. Methods: Sixty-five women (age range: 40-58 years old) participated in this study. All women were in the perimenopausal phase. The diagnosis of depression was made through a psychiatric interview and with the aid of Hamilton Depression Rating Scale 17 (HAM-D 17). The acute-phase response proteins, such as haptoglobin (HP), transferrine (TRf), alpha 1-antitrypsin, complement protein 3 (C3), complement protein 4 (C4) and C-reactive protein (CRP) and the reproductive hormones, for example follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and estradiol (E2), were analyzed using standard laboratory methods. Pearson's correlations were applied to evaluate the relationship between acute-phase proteins and hormones. Results: Perimenopausal women were divided into three groups. The first group consisted of normal controls, the second one involved depressed perimenopausal women, who were taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and the third one included depressed women that were not treated with SSRIs. Depressed women in perimenopause, when being compared to non-depressed women, did not differ as to serum levels of acute-phase proteins. There was a positive correlation between HP and E2 in depressed perimenopausal women, who were not taking SSRIs. Conclusions: The lack of association between acute-phase proteins and depressive mood mentioned in this study does not support previous findings in patients with major depression. This negative finding in perimenopausal depression indicates either the absence or a more complex nature of the interactions between acute-phase proteins, low-grade inflammation and depression. The hormonal profile of women is a part of this complexity, because it seems that in perimenopause the hormonal changes are accompanied by changes of acute-phase response proteins. Particularly, in perimenopausal depression, there is an interaction between HP and E2. Therefore, it seems that perimenopause is a period of a woman's life during which hormonal, immune and metabolic changes occur and interact with each other making women vulnerable to depression