Research article summary (published 4 Mar 2009):

Interleukin-6 is elevated in the cerebrospinal fluid of suicide attempters and related to symptom severity.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND: Depressive disorders are associated with immune system alterations that can be detected in the blood. Cytokine concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and their relationship to aspects of suicidality have previously not been investigated. METHODS: We measured interleukin-1beta, interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in CSF and plasma of suicide attempters (n = 63) and healthy control subjects (n = 47). Patients were classified according to diagnosis and violent or nonviolent suicide attempt. We evaluated suicidal ideation and depressive symptoms using the Suicide Assessment Scale and the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). We also analyzed the relation between cytokines and monoamine metabolites 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), homovanillic acid (HVA), and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) in CSF, as well as the integrity of the blood-brain barrier as reflected by the CSF:serum albumin ratio. RESULTS: IL-6 in CSF was significantly higher in suicide attempters than in healthy control subjects. Patients who performed violent suicide attempts displayed the highest IL-6. Furthermore, there was a significant positive correlation between MADRS scores and CSF IL-6 levels in all patients. IL-6 and TNF-alpha correlated significantly with 5-HIAA and HVA in CSF, but not with MHPG. Cytokine levels in plasma and CSF were not associated, and patients with increased blood-brain barrier permeability did not exhibit elevated cytokine levels. CONCLUSIONS: We propose a role for CSF IL-6 in the symptomatology of suicidal behavior, possibly through mechanisms involving alterations of dopamine and serotonin metabolism.

Author information

Author/s: Lindqvist, Daniel (D); Janelidze, Shorena (S); Hagell, Peter (P); Erhardt, Sophie (S); Samuelsson, Martin (M); Minthon, Lennart (L); Hansson, Oskar (O); Björkqvist, Maria (M); Träskman-Bendz, Lil (L); Brundin, Lena (L);

Affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, Lund University Hospital, Lund SE-221 85, Sweden.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Biological psychiatry (Biol Psychiatry), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Aug; vol 66 (issue 3) : pp 287-92

Dates: Created 2009/07/06; Completed 2009/10/13;

PMID: 19268915, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 10/13/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult Analysis of Variance Blood-Brain Barrier - physiopathology Cytokines - blood; cerebrospinal fluid Depression - cerebrospinal fluid; psychology Female Homovanillic Acid - cerebrospinal fluid Humans Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid - cerebrospinal fluid Interleukin-6 - cerebrospinal fluid

Interleukin-6 - cerebrospinal fluid Male Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol - cerebrospinal fluid Middle Aged Psychiatric Status Rating Scales Severity of Illness Index Spinal Puncture - methods Statistics, Nonparametric Suicide, Attempted Young Adult

Associated Chemicals: Cytokines (0) ; Interleukin-6 (0) ; Homovanillic Acid (306-08-1) ; Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol (534-82-7) ; Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid (54-16-0)

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