IL-10 Is Associated with Increased Mu-Opioid Receptor Levels in Major Depressive Disorder
Open accessAbstract
Objective: Activation of the immune-inflammatory response system (IRS) and the compensatory immune-regulatory system (CIRS) and aberrations in endogenous opioids play a role in the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder (MDD). There are no studies which examined the associations between both systems in MDD. The aim of the present study was to examine the relation between β-Endorphin (β-EP), Endomorphin-2, and their mu-opioid receptor (MOR) as well as interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10, an anti-inflammatory cytokine, in MDD patients. Method: The study included 60 depressed drug-free male patients and 30 matched controls. Serum β-EP, Endomorphin-2, MOR, IL-6 and IL-10 levels were measured using ELISA techniques. Results: The results revealed a significant increase in serum β-EP, MOR, IL-6 and IL-10 in MDD patients versus healthy controls. MOR levels were strongly associated with IL-10 levels. There were no significant correlations between endogenous opioids and IL-6 and IL-10. Conclusion: The results show that MOR levels may function as a possible component of the CIRS whilst there is no evidence that β-EP and EM-2 may modify the IRS. The significant correlation between MOR levels and IL-10 may be explained through central activation of the HPA-axis and increased B-cell numbers expressing MOR as a response to cytokine over-secretion in MDD.
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Decreased IL-10 levels were described in humans with symptoms of depression, anxiety, and increased suicide risk in a population study, as well as in stroke patients who developed depressive disorder.
“Decreased levels of IL-10 were described in humans with symptoms of depression, anxiety, and increased suicide risk in a population study, as well as in stroke patients who developed the depressive disorder.”
From Selected biomarkers of depression: what are the effects of cytokines and inflammation (2022) · cites this paper as [108]
Some studies report increased IL-10 levels in MDD.
“Yet the literature also yields studies that report increased IL-10 levels in MDD.”
From Selected biomarkers of depression: what are the effects of cytokines and inflammation (2022) · cites this paper as [108]
IL-10 knockout mice showed learned helplessness in animal depression models, a symptom that could be reverted by application of IL-10.
“IL-10 knockout mice showed learned helplessness in animal depression models, a symptom that could be reverted by application of IL-10, whereas IL-10 administration led to increased motor activity in wild-type mice.”
From Selected biomarkers of depression: what are the effects of cytokines and inflammation (2022) · cites this paper as [108]
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- Authors
- Al-Fadhel, S. Z., Al-Hakeim, H. K., Al-Dujaili, A. H., & Maes, M.
- Affiliations
- University of Kufa (IQ)
- Barwon Health (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Maes, Michael
- Venue
- European Psychiatry
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 2019-01-21
- Volume
- 57
- Pages
- 46-51
- ISSN
- 0924-9338 (ISSN-L)
- 1778-3585
- OpenAlex
- W2913803809
- Cited by
- 44
- References
- 66
- Citations by year
- 2025: 5 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 5
- FWCI
- 2.21
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- European Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Biological Psychiatry › Tryptophan and brain disorders
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
- Keywords
- major depressive disorder, mu-opioid receptor, IL-10, interleukin-6, beta-endorphin, endomorphin-2, endogenous opioids, immune-inflammatory response, cytokines, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, B cells
- MeSH terms
- Adult, beta-Endorphin, Depression, Depressive Disorder, Major, Major Depressive Disorder, Humans, Male, Oligopeptides, Case-Control Studies, Interleukin-10, Receptors, Opioid, mu
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