Changes of Level and Clinical Significance of Serum Cytokine,C-reactive Protein and Zinc in Patients with Depression

Objective: By means of measuring the level of serum cytokine(IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α), C-reactive protein and zinc in patients with depressive disorder,to explore the role of these indices in the pathophysiology in depression. Methods: 33 patients with depression according to the criteria of CCMD-3 and ICD-10,and there are 23 healthy controls in our study. Measure the level of serum IL-6,IL-1β,TNF-α in patients with depression and healthy controls by enzymatic-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA); serum CRP concentrations by scatter rate nephelometry; and the level of Zn by chemistry colorimetric method. And at pre-treatment, assess HAMD, analyze the correlation of severe degree,course,age of disease onset, gender, the total score of HAMD, the factor score and serum IL-6,IL-1β,TNF-α, CRP, Zn. Results: ①It is significant higher in the level of serum IL-6[(8.90±5.63 )pg/ml], TNF-α[(13.57±7.63)pg/ml], CRP[(6.18±5.68)mg/L] in patients with depression than in controls(IL-6:5.95±3.66;TNF-α:12.87±5.34;CRP:2.50±1.44), and significantly lower in serum zinc level[(11.88±2.37)μmol/L] in depression patients than in controls(13.60±1.90); significantly lower in serum zinc level(11.19±2.21) in female patients with depression than in male depression(14.04±1.48).②There is significantly positive correlation in the level of serum IL-6 and TNF-α in patients with depression (r =0.470, P0.01); the relation with serum IL-1β and Zn is also significantly positively correlated(r =0.346, P0.05). ③There is significantly positive correlation in the serum Zn level and psychomotor retardation score of HAMD in depression (r =0.351, P0.05), and gender(r =0.576, P0.01). Conclusion: ①The increases in the level of serum IL-6, TNF-α, CRP in patients with depression may be one of immunological markers of depression; ②The abnormality of cytokine IL-1β level and element Zn is closely related, which suggests they are possiblely related with the pathophysiology of depression.