Effect of Sertraline on Cytokine Balance in Patients with Depression

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of sertraline on cytokine balance in patients with depression. METHODS: Serum levels of interleukin2(IL-2), interleukin12(IL-12), interleukin4(IL-4), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β1) were measured in 26 patients with depression(depression group) before and after treatment and 28 healthy volunteers (control group) by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: As compared with control group, in depression group the serum levels of IL-2, IL-12, TNF-α were significantly higher than in control group; the serum levels of IL-4, TGF-β1 were significantly lower than in control group(P0.01). After treatment, the serum levels of IL-2,IL-12,TNF-α in depression group were significantly decreased but serum levels of IL-4, TGF-β1 were increased than those before treatment (P0.01). CONCLUSION: Patients with depression show cytokine unbalance and general immune activation. Anti-depressant activity of sertraline might be performed by adjusting immune system.