Du YJ, Li B, Zhang HY, Cao YX, Duan XH, Gong WY, Dong JC. Airway inflammation and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity in asthmatic adults with depression.
J Asthma 2013;
50:274-81. [PMID:
23323569 DOI:
10.3109/02770903.2013.765891]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the features of airway inflammation and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPAA) activity in patients with asthma accompanied by depression.
METHODS
Adult asthmatics were recruited and enrolled into one of the two groups based on scores on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD): asthmatics with depression (HAMD score ≥8, n = 23), and asthmatics without depression (HAMD score <8, n = 41). In addition, 27 healthy individuals and 21 adults with depression only were enrolled as controls. Induced sputum and blood samples were collected for measurement of cytokines and other inflammatory factors. The diurnal rhythm profiles of salivary cortisol and other hormones were obtained for assessment of the HPAA activity.
RESULTS
For the group of asthmatics with depression, the mean HAMD score was 19.0, and for the group of asthmatics without depression, the HAMD score averaged 4.9(p < .001). Serum and sputum tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) were significantly higher in asthmatics with depression than those in the other groups (p < .05) while serum interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) was lower in asthmatics with depression than that in the other groups (p < .05). Twenty-four-hour urinary cortisol, salivary cortisol at 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. were lower in asthmatics with depression compared to other groups (p < .05).
CONCLUSIONS
As compared to healthy individuals and those with asthma or depression alone, individuals with comorbid depression and asthma showed the highest level of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the lowest level of anti-inflammatory cytokines and cortisol. These observations may serve as a valuable reference for diagnosis and clinic therapies of depression in asthmatics.
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