Altered serum TNF-α and MCP-4 levels are associated with the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder: A case-control study results.

Bibliographic Details
Title: Altered serum TNF-α and MCP-4 levels are associated with the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder: A case-control study results.
Authors: Jannatul Nayem, Rapty Sarker, A S M Roknuzzaman, M M A Shalahuddin Qusar, Sheikh Zahir Raihan, Md Rabiul Islam, Zobaer Al Mahmud
Source: PLoS ONE, Vol 18, Iss 11, p e0294288 (2023)
Publisher Information: Public Library of Science (PLoS), 2023.
Publication Year: 2023
Collection: LCC:Medicine
LCC:Science
Subject Terms: Medicine, Science
More Details: BackgroundMajor Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a debilitating mental health condition with complex etiology, and recent research has focused on pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines as potential contributors to its pathogenesis. However, studies investigating the roles of TNF-α and MCP-4 in MDD within the Bangladeshi population are scarce. This study aimed to assess the association between serum TNF-α and MCP-4 levels and the severity of MDD, exploring their potential as risk indicators for MDD development.MethodsThis case-control study enrolled 58 MDD patients from Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh, alongside 30 age, sex, and BMI-matched healthy controls. MDD diagnosis followed DSM-5 criteria and disease severity using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (Ham-D). We measured serum TNF-α and MCP-4 levels using ELISA assays according to the supplied protocols.ResultsThe study revealed significantly elevated serum TNF-α levels in MDD patients (47±6.6 pg/ml, mean±SEM) compared to controls (28.06±1.07 pg/ml). These increased TNF-α levels positively correlated with Ham-D scores (Pearson's r = 0.300, p = 0.038), suggesting a potential association between peripheral TNF-α levels and MDD pathology. Additionally, MDD patients exhibited significantly higher serum MCP-4 levels (70.49±6.45 pg/ml) than controls (40.21±4.08 pg/ml). However, serum MCP-4 levels showed a significant negative correlation (r = -0.270, P = 0.048) with Ham-D scores in MDD patients, indicating a more complex role for MCP-4 in MDD pathogenesis.ConclusionThis study highlights that Bangladeshi MDD patients exhibit heightened inflammatory and immune responses compared to controls, supporting the cytokine hypothesis in MDD pathogenesis. Serum TNF-α, but not MCP-4, shows promise as a potential biomarker for assessing the risk of MDD development, which could aid in early detection. Future investigations involving larger populations and longitudinal studies are essential to confirm the utility of these cytokines as biomarkers for MDD.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 1932-6203
Relation: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0294288&type=printable; https://doaj.org/toc/1932-6203
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0294288&type=printable
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0294288
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/db07e80e5cb94da5a17a8a89d72c5a5e
Accession Number: edsdoj.b07e80e5cb94da5a17a8a89d72c5a5e
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
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More Details
ISSN:19326203
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0294288&type=printable
Published in:PLoS ONE
Language:English