Inflammatory cytokines and depression symptoms following hematopoietic cell transplantation

• Published in: Brain, behavior, and immunity behavior, and immunity, 2023-08, Vol.112, p.11-17
• Main Authors: Nelson, Ashley M., Erdmann, Alexandra A., Coe, Christopher L., Juckett, Mark B., Morris, Keayra, Knight, Jennifer M., Hematti, Peiman, Costanzo, Erin S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cytokines; Depression; Depression - psychology; Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation - adverse effects; Humans; Inflammation; Interleukin-10; Interleukin-6; Quality of Life - psychology
• ISSN: 0889-1591; 1090-2139; 1090-2139
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.05.012

•HCT recipients with elevated IL-6 and IL-10 have more severe depression symptoms.•Change in IL-6 and IL-10 correspond with change in depression within participants.•Relationships are strongest for neurovegetative symptoms of depression. Increased synthesis and release of inflammatory signalling proteins is common among individuals with hematologic malignancies undergoing hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) due to intensive conditioning regimens and complications such as graft-versus-host-disease and infections. Prior research indicates that inflammatory responses can activate central nervous system pathways that evoke changes in mood. This study examined relationships between markers of inflammatory activity and depression symptoms following HCT. Individuals undergoing allogeneic (n = 84) and autologous (n = 155) HCT completed measures of depression symptoms pre-HCT and 1, 3, and 6 months post-HCT. Proinflammatory (IL-6, TNF-α) and regulatory (IL-10) cytokines were assessed by ELISA in peripheral blood plasma. Mixed-effects linear regression models indicated that patients with elevated IL-6 and IL-10 reported more severe depression symptoms at the post-HCT assessments. These findings were replicated when examining both allogeneic and autologous samples. Follow-up analyses clarified that relationships were strongest for neurovegetative, rather than cognitive or affective, symptoms of depression. These findings suggest that anti-inflammatory therapeutics targeting an inflammatory mediator of depression could improve quality of life of HCT recipients.