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- Title
Acute effects of low-dose interferon- on serum cortisol and plasma interleukin-6.
- Authors
Cassidy, Eugene; Manning, Diamuid; Bryne, Sinead; Bolger, Emer; Murray, Frank; Sharifi, Neda; Wallace, Eleanor; Keogan, M T; O'Keane, Veronica
- Abstract
Major depression is associated with both hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis overactivity and immune system activation. Depression is a common occurrence following interferon (IFN)-? treatment. While IFN-? is known to stimulate the HPA axis, little is known about the effects of exogenous IFN-? in humans on the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-6, a marker of immune system activation. This study examined the acute effects of IFN-? on cortisol and IL-6 release, and the time course of any changes in these variables. Serum cortisol and plasma IL-6 were assessed in healthy volunteers over an 8-h period following 3 million units subcutaneous IFN-? or placebo using a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover design. IFN-? resulted in a significant increase in both cortisol and IL-6. Regular sampling over 8 h did not delineate any sequential effect of the rise in these variables over time. We conclude that IFN-? acutely stimulates both the HPA axis and proinflammatory cytokine release. The hypothesis that the effect of IFN-? on the HPA axis is indirect and mediated by IL-6 was not supported by this study. Our findings are nonetheless of relevance to the aetiology of depression following IFN-?.
- Subjects
INTERFERONS; CYTOKINES; MENTAL depression; HYDROCORTISONE
- Publication
Journal of Psychopharmacology, 2002, Vol 16, Issue 3, p230
- ISSN
0269-8811
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1177/026988110201600307