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Title: | Depressive symptoms following interferon-alpha therapy: mediated by immune-induced reductions in brain-derived neurotrophic factor? | Authors: | Kenis, Gunter Prickaerts, Jos van Os, Jim Koek, Ger H. ROBAEYS, Geert STEINBUSCH, Harry Wichers, Marieke |
Issue Date: | 2011 | Publisher: | CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS | Source: | INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NEUROPSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY, 14(2). p. 247-253 | Abstract: | Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) therapy for the treatment of hepatitis C is known to induce depressive symptoms and major depression in a substantial proportion of patients. While immune activation and disturbances in peripheral tryptophan catabolism have been implicated, the exact underlying mechanism remains unknown. A role for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the pathophysiology of mood disorders has recently emerged. This study examined whether depressive symptoms over time are associated with changes in serum BDNF concentration in hepatitis C patients treated with IFN-alpha, and whether BDNF mediates the effects of IFN-alpha-induced immune activation on depressive symptoms. For this purpose, 17 hepatitis C patients received IFN-alpha treatment with ribavirin. Patients were assessed before and at 1, 2, 4, 8, 12 and 24 wk after start of treatment. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). In addition, cytokine concentrations and serum BDNF levels were measured at all time-points. Serum levels of BDNF decreased during the course of treatment, and were significantly and inversely associated with total MADRS score. Furthermore, pro-inflammatory cytokine levels predicted lower subsequent BDNF levels, whereas low BDNF levels, as well as increased cytokine levels, were independently associated with the development of depressive symptoms during IFN-alpha treatment. These findings suggest that the effect of IFN-alpha-induced immune activation on depression may be explained in part by alterations in neuroprotective capacity, reflected by decreases in serum BDNF following IFN-alpha treatment. | Notes: | [Kenis, Gunter; van Os, Jim; Wichers, Marieke] Maastricht Univ, Dept Psychiat & Neuropsychol, S Limburg Mental Hlth Res & Teaching Network, EURON, NL-6200 MD Maastricht, Netherlands. [Kenis, Gunter; Prickaerts, Jos; Steinbusch, Harry W. M.] Maastricht Univ, Dept Psychiat & Neuropsychol, Sect Cellular Neurosci, Brain & Behav Inst,EURON, NL-6200 MD Maastricht, Netherlands. [Koek, Ger H.] Univ Limburg, Acad Hosp Maastricht, Div Gastroenterol & Hepatol, Dept Internal Med, Maastricht, Netherlands. [Robaeys, Geert] Ziekenhuis Oost Limburg, Dept Gastroenterol & Hepatol, Genk, Belgium. [Robaeys, Geert] UZ Leuven, Dept Hepatol, Louvain, Belgium. [Robaeys, Geert] Hasselt Univ, Fac Med, Diepenbeek, Belgium. [Kenis, Gunter; Prickaerts, Jos; van Os, Jim; Steinbusch, Harry W. M.; Wichers, Marieke] European Grad Sch Neurosci, Maastricht, Netherlands. | Keywords: | Brain-derived neurotrophic factor; cytokine; hepatitis C; interferon-alpha; major depressive disorder | Document URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/1942/11832 | ISSN: | 1461-1457 | e-ISSN: | 1469-5111 | DOI: | 10.1017/S1461145710000830 | ISI #: | 000287786000009 | Category: | A1 | Type: | Journal Contribution | Validations: | ecoom 2012 |
Appears in Collections: | Research publications |
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