Study On Cytokines In Serum Of Patients With Subthreshold Depression

BackgroundSubthreshold Depression(SD)refers to the state of Depression that does not meet the diagnostic criteria for Depression.Such people have a higher incidence than depression,and show similar biosocial processes with depression,as well as severely affected psychosocial function,and even have the same disability rate and sense of worthlessness as major depression.Studies have found that more than half of the first episode of major depressive disorder patients developed depressive symptoms one year before the onset,and eventually developed depression over time.At present,many studies have shown the overlap between inflammation and the immunological mechanism of Depression.Therefore,the immunological study on cytokines has certain clinical significance in the early recognition,diagnosis,treatment and prevention of the disease in the future of subthreshold depression patients.ObjectivesTo clarify the correlation between subthreshold depression patients and cytokines,and the differences in cytokine levels between subthreshold depression patients and healthy people and depression patients were compared,so as to provide laboratory data support and theoretical basis for the screening and treatment of subthreshold depression patients.MethodsAccording to the inclusion and exclusion criteria,the subjects were divided into healthy control group(30 cases),subthreshold depression group(30 cases)and depression group(30 cases).The general basic information(gender,age,education level)and the score of Hamilton Depression Scale(HAMD)were collected.Fast-fasting blood samples were collected from the next morning.Serum levels of interleukin-1β(IL-1β),interleukin-4(IL-4)and Tumor Necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α)levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Results1.There was no statistical significance in the general basic data(including gender,age,education level)among the healthy control group,subthreshold depression group and depression group(P>0.05).2.The scores of depression,suicide,lack of deep sleep,work and interest,mental anxiety,somatic anxiety and total score in subthreshold depression group were higher than those in healthy control group(P<0.05),and the scores of retardation were lower than those in healthy control group(P<0.05).The scores of depression,guilt,suicide,difficulty falling asleep,early waking,hysteresis,agitation,sexual symptoms,hypochondria,weight loss,self-awareness and total score in subthreshold depression group were lower than those in depression group(P<0.05).The scores of depression group were higher than those of healthy control group in depression,guilt,suicide,difficulty falling asleep,insufficient sleep,early waking,work and interest,hysteresis,agitation,mental anxiety,sexual symptoms,hypochondria,weight loss,self-awareness and total score(P<0.05).3.The level of serum IL-1β in depression group was higher than that in healthy control group and subthreshold depression group(P<0.05),and the level of serum IL-4 in depression group was lower than that in healthy control group and subthreshold depression group(P<0.05).The serum level of TNF-α in subthreshold depression group and depression group was higher than that in healthy control group(P<0.05).4.Spearman correlation analysis of cytokine levels and HAMD-17 factors and total scores of all subjects showed that IL-1β level was positively correlated with depression,suicide,difficulty falling asleep,poor sleep,early waking,work and interest,retardation,agitation,mental anxiety,hypochondria,weight loss,self-awareness and general aspects(P<0.05).IL-4 level was negatively correlated with depression,suicide,lack of sleep,work and interest,retardation,agitation,mental anxiety,weight loss,self-awareness and general aspects(P<0.05).TNF-α level was positively correlated with depression,suicide,lack of sleep,work and interest,retardation,mental anxiety,weight loss and overall(P<0.05).ConclusionThis study concluded that the occurrence and development of the depression and subthreshold depression may exist in a certain degree of immune system disorder,imbalance,causing abnormal immune inflammatory reaction,characterized by inflammatory cytokines(IL-1β and TNF-α)higher level expression,anti-inflammatory cytokines(IL-4)expression level,to reduce the subthreshold depression in patients with elevated levels of TNF-α.