The change of peripheral blood endothelial progenitor cells in patients with newly diagnosed depression

Objective To detect the number and function changes of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) from peripheral blood in patients with first-episode depression and explore their correlation with blood pressure,glucose,lipids,inflammation. Methods The study included thirty first-episode depression patients and 30 healthy controls.The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-24 (HAMD24) was used to assess the severity of depression.Peripheral blood EPCs were counted by flow cytometry.Mononuclear cells (MNCs) was isolated from peripheral blood by ficoll density-gradients centrifugation.After 7 days of culture,EPC proliferation activity was determined by MTT assay.The plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 were assayed by using enzymelabeled chemiluminescent sequential immunometric assay.Additionally,the high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) was detected by turbidimetric immunoassay. Results (1) Number and function activity of EPCs in patients were significantly lower than the controls[ (13.32±5.65) ×103vs. (24.39±9.94) ×103,(0.44±0.04)% vs. (0.61±0.05)%,t=-6.69,-14.23,P<0.05]. (2) Significant increase was observed in serum IL-6 and TNF-α level in patients[(8.76±3.18),(14.95±5.54) ng/L]compared with controls[(3.11±3.18),(4.67±2.23) ng/L,t=5.31,4.22,P<0.05] and these had negative correlation with the number and proliferation activity of EPCs. (3) By multiple linear stepwise regression analysis,HAMD and IL-6 were the independent factors affecting EPCs number (P<0.05). Conclusions The number and proliferation activity of EPCs are probably decreased in patients with first-episode depression,and neovascularization and repairment of damaged endothelium may be impaired in these patients,which could increase risk of coronary heart disease. Key words: Depressive disorder; Interleukins; Endothelial progenitor cells