Neuropsychopharmacology 1999 Apr;20(4):370-9

Negative immunoregulatory effects of antidepressants: inhibition of
interferon-gamma and stimulation of interleukin-10 secretion.

Maes M, Song C, Lin AH, Bonaccorso S, Kenis G, De Jongh R, Bosmans E, Scharpe S

Clinical Research Center for Mental Health, Antwerp, Belgium.

There is now some evidence that major depression is accompanied by activation of
the inflammatory response system. There is also some evidence that
antidepressants may suppress the release of cytokines, such as interleukin-1
beta (IL-1 beta) and IL-6 by activated monocytes and IL-2 and interferon-gamma
(IFN gamma) by activated T cells. This study was carried out to examine the
effects of clomipramine, sertraline, and trazodone on the stimulated production
of IFN gamma, a pro-inflammatory cytokine, and IL-10, a negative
immunoregulatory cytokine. Whole blood of nine healthy volunteers was stimulated
with PHA, 5 micrograms/mL and LPS, 25 micrograms/mL for 72 hr with and without
incubation with clomipramine, 10(-6) and 10(-9) M, sertraline, 10(-6) and 10(-8)
M, and trazodone, 10(-6) and 10(-8) M. All three antidepressants significantly
reduced IFN gamma secretion, whereas clomipramine and sertraline significantly
increased IL-10 secretion in culture supernatant. All three antidepressants
significantly reduced the IFN gamma/IL-10 ratio. The results suggest that
antidepressants, at concentrations in the therapeutical range, have negative
immunoregulatory effects through inhibition of IFN gamma and stimulation of
IL-10 release.

Publication Types:
Clinical trial

PMID: 10088138, UI: 99188130