IL-4 as a potential biomarker for differentiating major depressive disorder from bipolar depression

Plasma IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-5 levels are decreased during acute manic episodes in bipolar disorder patients

Introduction: Bipolar disorder (BD) is a recurrent and disabling psychiatric disorder related to low-grade peripheral inflammation and altered levels of the members of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) family. The aim of this study was to evaluate the plasma levels of IGF-2, insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 1 (IGFBP-1), IGFBP-3, IGFBP-5, IGFBP-7, and inflammatory markers such as tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), and macrophage inflammatory protein 1β (MIP-1β). Methods: We used the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) to determine the severity of the symptomatology, while proteins were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We included 20 patients with BD who suffered a manic episode and 20 controls. Some BD patients (n = 10) were evaluated after a period (17 ± 8 days) of pharmacological treatment. Results: No statistical difference was found in IGF-2, IGFBP-1, IGFBP-7, TNF-α, and MIP-1β levels. However, IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-5 levels were found to be statistically decreased in BD patients. Conversely, the MCP-1 level was significantly increased in BD patients, but their levels were normalized after treatment. Intriguingly, only IGFBP-1 levels were significantly decreased after treatment. No significant correlation was found between the YMRS and any of the proteins studied either before or after treatment or between IGF proteins and inflammatory markers. Discussion: To some extent, IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-5 might be further explored as potential indicators of treatment responsiveness or diagnosis biomarkers in BD.

Evaluation of serum interleukin-12 and interleukin-4 as potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of major depressive disorder

Recently, scientists have focused on pro-inflammatory cytokines and immunological dysregulation in major depressive disorder (MDD). Some research suggests pro-inflammatory cytokines' role in MDD development, whereas anti-inflammatory studies are sparse. There is no systematic investigation of Bangladeshi MDD patients' pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. This study examines the blood levels of IL-12 and IL-4 in Bangladeshi patients and healthy controls (HCs) to determine the diagnostic accuracy of these cytokines to identify MDD patients from those without MDD. A total of 110 people with MDD from the department of psychiatry of a teaching hospital in Dhaka and 107 HCs from Dhaka participated in this case-control study. Depression and illness severity were gauged using DSM-5 criteria and Ham-D scores. Commercially marketed ELISA kits were used in accordance with manufacturer guidelines to measure the levels of IL-12 and IL-4 in peripheral blood, allowing a comparison of the patient and control groups. In comparison to HCs, MDD patients (5333.00 ± 307.40 pg/ml) showed noticeably higher levels of IL-12 than in HCs (2331.00 ± 207.40 pg/ml). The increased levels were positively correlated with Ham-D scores (male: r = 0.351, p < 0.050; female: r = 0.389, p < 0.050), suggesting a possible relationship to disease progression. Additionally, compared to HCs (272.81 ± 23.94 pg/ml), MDD patients had significantly higher peripheral blood levels of IL-4 (876.35 ± 66.73 pg/ml) (p < 0.001). Also, there was a positive correlation between IL-4 serum levels and Ham-D scores (male: r = 0.361, p < 0.050; female: r = 0.398, p < 0.050). Therefore, we observed increased levels of these serum cytokines and their association with the severity of depression. The results of this study demonstrate the possibility of IL-12 and IL-4 blood levels as distinct markers capable of differentiating between MDD patients and HCs, possibly acting as markers of MDD susceptibility. To ascertain the diagnostic effectiveness of these two cytokines, more research is necessary.

Effects of Physical Exercise and Motor Activity on Depression and Anxiety in Post-Mastectomy Pain Syndrome

BACKGROUND

Chronic post-surgical pain is a condition persisting for not less than 3 months after surgical intervention. It is evaluated that 25-60% of women who underwent breast cancer excision suffer from post-mastectomy pain syndrome, and anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance, and catastrophizing. Physical activity can reduce the risk of chronic diseases and has a good impact on mood and cognitive function. The aim of this study was to estimate the influence of physical activity on the intensity of pain, depression, and anxiety in women who underwent mastectomy for breast cancer removal.

METHODS

A prospective observational unicentric cohort study was performed. Patients were females who underwent unilateral or bilateral mastectomy. The Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) was used to measure pain intensity, Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI) for depression, and Generalized Anxiety Disorders-7 (GAD-7) for anxiety evaluation. Physical activity was assessed by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Interleukin (IL)-17, IL-1β, cortisol, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were also evaluated in the blood of patients. All evaluations were assessed 3 and 6 months after the surgery.

RESULTS

Adequate physical activity reduced the intensity of pain, depression, and anxiety symptoms in women affected by post-mastectomy pain syndrome. Moreover, adequately active women showed a reduction in biomarkers of inflammation, cortisol, ACTH, and an increase of BDNF.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that physical activity can improve the quality of life, reduce the intensity of pain and inflammatory markers, and be useful in the reduction of associated anxiety and depression.

Biomarkers of Postpartum Depression: A Narrative Review

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a disorder that impairs the formation of the relationship between mother and child, and reduces the quality of life for affected women to a functionally significant degree. Studying markers associated with PPD can help in early detection, prevention, or monitoring treatment. The purpose of this paper is to review biomarkers linked to PPD and to present selected theories on the pathogenesis of the disease based on data from biomarker studies. The complex etiology of the disorder reduces the specificity and sensitivity of markers, but they remain a valuable source of information to help clinicians. The biggest challenge of the future will be to translate high-tech methods for detecting markers associated with postpartum depression into more readily available and less costly ones. Population-based studies are needed to test the utility of potential PPD markers.