Abstract
Objective:
Patients suffering from major depressive disorder (MDD) commonly exhibit abnormal p11 (S100A10) and dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis. This study was aimed to quantify peripheral p11, cortisol (COR), and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels and further revealed the possible mechanisms of MDD and antidepressant response.
Methods:
A total of 60 MDD inpatients and 67 healthy controls (HC) were recruited in this study. Demographic characteristics and neuropsychological assessment including Hamilton rating scale for depression-17 (HAMD-17), Hamilton anxiety rating scale (HAMA), Snaith-Hamilton pleasure scale (SHAPS) and temporal experience of pleasure scale (TEPS) were collected. A main antidepressant was utilized after the patients were enrolled (T0) and at two week follow-up (T2). Peripheral p11 levels including monocyte (MO), natural killer (NK), T-cell, COR, and ACTH were measured by multicolor flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay at T0 and T2.
Results:
CD4+T p11, COR and ACTH were significantly different between the MDD and HC groups at T0 (all P < 0.05). Subgroup analysis by gender showed that the MO-C, MO-NC, and NK p11+ cells were higher in female than in male MDD patients (all P < 0.05). There was a negative relationship between p11 of MO-NC, CD4+T, CD8+T, and TEPS. However, there was no significant difference between T0 and T2 in MDD patients.
Conclusion:
Baseline p11 levels may serve as a peripheral blood biomarker for female depressive patients and further provide more insight into the pathological mechanisms of MDD.