Evaluation of serum interleukin‐1 receptor antagonist levels in major depressive disorder: A case‐control study

Abstract

Background and Aims Major depressive disorder (MDD) is characterized by the occurrence of one or more depressive episodes lasting a minimum of 2 weeks and is marked by a persistently low mood and a lack of enjoyment in daily activities. The diagnosis of MDD is not possible by a well‐established laboratory test or biomarker. A wide range of potential biomarkers for depression have been proposed by many studies, but none of them has adequately described the correlation between the biomarkers and depression. The purpose of this study was to evaluate serum interleukin‐1 receptor antagonist (IL‐1RA) levels as an early depression risk factor. Methods The present case‐control study included 88 participants. Among them, 44 MDD patients enrolled from the psychiatry department of a public hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and 44 age‐ and sex‐matched healthy controls (HCs) from various sites in Dhaka city. A qualified psychiatrist evaluated the cases and HCs based on the fifth edition of the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM‐5). The Hamilton depression (Ham‐D) rating scale was employed to evaluate the intensity of depression. An enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay kit (Boster Bio, USA) was used to determine serum IL‐1RA concentrations. Results We observed no marked alteration in the serum concentration of IL‐1RA in MDD patients in comparison to HCs (292.81 ± 24.81 and 288 ± 24.87 pg/mL; p > 0.05). Among MDD patients, we found no noteworthy association between the severity of depression and serum IL‐1RA levels. Conclusion The findings of the present study imply that IL‐1RA may not be identified as a promising biomarker for risk assessment of depression. However, its neuroprotective role may be taken into consideration for the understanding of pathophysiology of MDD.

Association of reduced serum EGF and leptin levels with the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder: A case-control study

“…Measuring the serum leptin and EGF levels alone cannot accurately represent the entire neuroinflammatory process of major depressive disorder. It would help to understand the pathophysiology of MDD more accurately when measuring other parameters in the same demographic and laboratory settings [ 53 , 54 ]. Moreover, the duration of depression, that could potentially influence the levels of inflammatory parameters was not considered.…”

Elevated Serum Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor Levels are Associated With Major Depressive Disorder

“… 35 In consistent with some earlier studies, we observed sex-specific differences for serum MIF levels among patients. 49 - 52 A few studies reported decreased and elevated MIF levels in MDD individuals. 47 , 48 According to the present study findings and previous results, serum MIF levels are inconsistent among the studies.…”

Elevated Serum IL-2 Levels are Associated With Major Depressive Disorder: A Case-Control Study

“…Inflammatory pathway mediates a connection between sickness behavior and clinical depression. 45 Rodent studies reported that the administration of pro-inflammatory cytokines induced depressive-like behaviors suggesting the association between depression and inflammation. 46 Elevated IL-2 levels cause the degradation of the tryptophan (TRP) enzyme, a precursor of serotonin production through the IDO pathway, and thereby lead to depression.…”