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Clinical response augments NK cell activity independent of treatment modality: a randomized double-blind placebo controlled antidepressant trial

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 June 2004

M. G. FRANK ,
S. E. HENDRICKS ,
W. J. BURKE  and
D. R. JOHNSON
M. G. FRANK
Affiliation:
Department of Pathology and Microbiology and Department of Psychiatry, University of Nebraska Medical Center and Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA
S. E. HENDRICKS
Affiliation:
Department of Pathology and Microbiology and Department of Psychiatry, University of Nebraska Medical Center and Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA
W. J. BURKE
Affiliation:
Department of Pathology and Microbiology and Department of Psychiatry, University of Nebraska Medical Center and Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA
D. R. JOHNSON
Affiliation:
Department of Pathology and Microbiology and Department of Psychiatry, University of Nebraska Medical Center and Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA
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Abstract

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Background. Major depressive disorder (MDD) has been associated with alterations in immune function. Suppression of natural killer (NK) cell activity (NKCA) reliably characterizes immunological alterations observed in MDD. Antidepressant pharmacotherapy has been associated with modulation of NKCA. Previous investigations into antidepressant modulation of NKCA have not employed randomized double-blind placebo controlled designs. Thus, it is unknown whether treatment-associated changes in immune function are due to drug, placebo, or spontaneous remission effects. The present investigation examined the effect of antidepressant treatment on NKCA utilizing a randomized double-blind placebo controlled experimental design.

Method. Patients (N=16) met DSM-IV criteria for MDD and were randomly assigned to drug (N=8; citalopram, 20 mg/day) or placebo (N=8) under double-blind conditions. Severity and pattern of depressive symptoms were assessed by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS). NK cell function was measured using a standard chromium-release assay and NK cell number assessed by flow cytometry. HDRS scores, NK cell function, and NK cell numbers were collected at 0, 1, 2 and 4 weeks of treatment.

Results. Clinical response was associated with augmented NKCA independent of treatment condition. Failure to respond to treatment resulted in significantly reduced NKCA over treatment interval.

Conclusions. The present results suggest that alterations in the depressive syndrome, regardless of therapeutic modality, may be sufficient to modulate NKCA during antidepressant trials and thus may significantly impact on co-morbid health outcomes in MDD.

Type
Research Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 34 , Issue 3 , April 2004 , pp. 491 - 498
Copyright
© 2004 Cambridge University Press