Study Report
Reference
| Citation | Musil, 2011 PubMed |
| Full Info | Musil, R., Schwarz, M.J., Riedel, M., Dehning, S., Cerovecki, A., Spellmann, I., Arolt, V. and Muller, N. (2011) Elevated macrophage migration inhibitory factor and decreased transforming growth factor-beta levels in major depression--no influence of celecoxib treatment. J Affect Disord, 134, 217-225.
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Study
| Hypothesis or Background |
The involvement of an immune process in the pathophysiology of major depression disorder (MDD) was substantiated by studies demonstrating elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)). Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors lead to a reduced production of PGE(2) and have been shown to improve depressive symptoms. We investigated the three immune parameters macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) and soluble CD14 (sCD14) in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of the COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib as add-on therapy in patients with MDD treated with reboxetine.
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| Sample Information | Thirty-two patients with depression and 20 healthy controls participated in the study. |
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| Method Detail | The patients were treated with reboxetine and celecoxib or placebo. Immune parameters were measured from serum at baseline, after three and five weeks using ELISA. |
| Method Keywords | blood analysis |
| Result | Celecoxib as add-on strategy resulted in a significant reduction of Hamilton Depression Scale scores compared to placebo. Depressed patients showed significantly elevated MIF (p < 0.001) and reduced TGF-beta (p = 0.006) concentrations at baseline. There was no difference in sCD14-concentrations. There was no difference between the placebo and the celecoxib group and no change over time. |
| Conclusions | MIF is a promising new candidate in the neuro-immune interplay that may link depressive symptoms, altered immune state and HPA-axis dysregulation. Reduced levels of TGF-beta replicate previous findings and support the importance of this regulatory cytokine in major depressive disorder. |
| Remark | LIMITATIONS: Limitations of the study are the relatively small sample size and lack of functional assessment of HPA axis in parallel.
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Relationships reported by
Musil, 2011
| Component A Approved Name (Name in Paper) |
Component A Type |
Component B Approved Name (Name in Paper) |
Component B Type |
Statistical Result |
Relationship Description |
Result Category (Positive/Negative)) |
|
MDD
|
syndrome |
Transforming growth factor beta-1 (transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta)) |
protein |
P-value = 0.006 |
Depressed patients showed significantly elevated MIF (p < 0.001) and reduced TGF-beta (p = 0.006) concentrations at baseline. |
Positive
|
|
MDD
|
syndrome |
Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (migration inhibitory factor (MIF)) |
protein |
P-value < 0.001 |
Depressed patients showed significantly elevated MIF (p < 0.001) and reduced TGF-beta (p = 0.006) concentrations at baseline. |
Positive
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