Commentary: Sex Differences in the Peripheral Immune System in Patients with Depression
نویسندگان
چکیده
Statistics report a three to four times increased likelihood of developing a depressive episode in individuals afflicted with systemic inflammation (1), showing higher levels of inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP) or interleukin-6 (IL-6) in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) (2). However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this relationship remain to be further investigated (3, 4). Women show much higher rates of major depression than men (5, 6), although again, the underlying mechanisms are a matter of current debate (7–9). In addition, women show an increased prevalence of autoimmune disease compared to men (10). Therefore, it seems plausible to reason that sex differences may play a role in the relationship between MDD and inflammation. Previous studies investigating differences in inflammatory markers between women and men with MDD have yielded inconsistent results (11–13). There is also mounting evidence linking inflammatory markers to suicidal behavior (14–16). Sex differences in suicidal behavior are reported, with women showing more suicide attempts, while rates of completed suicide are much higher in men (17–19). Although lassitude and pessimism are prominent in depressed patients with suicidal ideation, it is seldom reported whether inflammation contributes to these two features of depression (20). Moreover, different levels of circulating inflammatory markers such as CRP and IL-6 are reported in men and women, further underlining the necessity to investigate gender differences in this field (21, 22). The relationship between sex differences and inflammation levels in patients with MDD is, therefore, of high interest, as identifying potential biomarkers leading to the development and progression of depression would not only improve our understanding of the disease but might also open up promising avenues for prevention and treatment. Therefore, in their recently published study, Birur and colleagues investigated gender differences with regard to the link between MDD and inflammation (23). The authors hypothesized that high levels of inflammatory markers in depressed women compared to depressed men would be present, as well as higher levels of inflammatory markers in depressed women compared to female control participants.
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Response to: Commentary: Sex Differences in the Peripheral Immune System in Patients with Depression
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