Are cytokine profiles associated with the cognitive performance of adults with severe major depression?

Daniela Peilstöcker; Christine Meisinger; Jakob Linseisen; Jessica Baumgärtner; Alkomiet Hasan; Max Schmauß; Inge Kirchberger

doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.09.009

Are cytokine profiles associated with the cognitive performance of adults with severe major depression?

J Psychiatr Res. 2023 Oct:166:32-39. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.09.009. Epub 2023 Sep 16.

Authors

Daniela Peilstöcker¹, Christine Meisinger², Jakob Linseisen², Jessica Baumgärtner³, Alkomiet Hasan³, Max Schmauß³, Inge Kirchberger⁴

Affiliations

¹ Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry, and Epidemiology, IBE, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany; Pettenkofer School of Public Health, Munich, Germany; Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany.
² Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany.
³ Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University of Augsburg, Medical Faculty, BKH Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany.
⁴ Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry, and Epidemiology, IBE, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany; Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany. Electronic address: Inge.Kirchberger@med.uni-augsburg.de.

PMID: 37738778
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.09.009

Abstract

Cognitive impairment often occurs in major depressive disorder (MDD). Studies suggest that these cognitive deficits may be associated with inflammatory biomarkers, but data are limited. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the relationship between 48 peripheral blood cytokines and cognitive performance in patients with severe depressive disorder. One hundred consecutive hospitalized adult patients with severe depression who participated in the Depression long-term Augsburg (DELTA) study were included in the present analysis. To test working memory (WM) the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) IV and to assess interference control (IC) the Stroop Color and Word Test (SCWT) were performed. The serum concentrations of the biomarkers were measured using the Bio-Plex Pro™ Human Cytokine Screening Panel 1. Multiple linear regression models adjusted for possible confounders were fitted to examine associations. WM was impaired in 11% of the patients. IC was impaired in 1%-3% of the cases depending on the subtest. Eotaxin, IL-1β, IL-4, MCP-1, G-CSF, and PGF-BB were negatively associated with the WM. Eotaxin, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-16, IL-18, MCP-1, G-CSF, SCF, and MIP-1α were negatively associated with IC. None of these associations remained significant after adjustment for multiple testing. The present study identified eotaxin, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-16, IL-18, MCP-1, G-CSF, SCF, PGF-BB and MIP-1α as being associated with cognitive performance. After confirmation of these results in further studies, these cytokines may be potential targets for new treatments.

Keywords: Cognition; Cytokines; Major depressive disorder; Memory.