Expansion of CD4 T Lymphocytes Expressing Interleukin 17 and Tumor Necrosis Factor in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder

• Published in: Journal of personalized medicine 2021-03, Vol.11 (3), p.220
• Main Authors: Alvarez-Mon, Miguel Angel, Gómez-Lahoz, Ana Maria, Orozco, Arancha, Lahera, Guillermo, Diaz, David, Ortega, Miguel A, Albillos, Agustin, Quintero, Javier, Aubá, Enrique, Monserrat, Jorge, Alvarez-Mon, Melchor
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2075-4426; 2075-4426
• DOI: 10.3390/jpm11030220

We have investigated the distribution of the Th1, Th2 and Th17 subsets in circulating CD4 T lymphocytes and their naïve (T ), effector (T ), central (T ) and effector memory (T ) activation/differentiation stages in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Thirty MDD patients and 30 healthy controls were studied. The counts of circulating CD4 T lymphocytes and their distribution on the T , T , T and T activation/differentiation stages were analyzed by polychromatic flow cytometry. The intracytoplasmic interferon gamma (IFNγ), interleukin (IL)-4, IL-17A and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and membrane CD28 expression were also measured. The serum IFNγ, IL-4, Il-17A and TNF-alpha were measured by Luminex, respectively. MDD patients had normal counts of CD4 T lymphocytes and of their T , T and T subsets but increased number and percentage of T CD4 subset. CD4 T lymphocytes had significantly enhanced percentage of cells that express IL-17 and TNF-alpha explained by the expansions found in the T , T and, T and T , T and T activation/differentiation stages, respectively. A selective increase in the percentages of T and T expressing IFNγ was also observed. We found a significant correlation between the percentages of CD4 T lymphocytes expressing IFNγ and TNF-alpha in these patients. MDD patients showed increased serum levels of IL-17 and TNF-alpha, but normal IFNγ and IL-4 concentration. the cross-sectional nature of the study could be considered a limitation. MDD patients have abnormal circulating CD4 T lymphocytes with expansion of the IL-17 and TNF-alpha expressing cells as well as increased levels of circulating IL-17 and TNF-alpha.