Reduction of Natural Killer Cytotoxic Activity in Major Depression

Interaction Between Depression and Cigarette Smoking

Bibliographic Data

ID19302012
AuthorsWaymond Jung (University of California San Diego Medical Center), Michael R Irwin (0000-0002-1502-8431, University of California San Diego Medical Center), Michael Irwin
Year1999
Volume61
Issue3
Pages263-270
Publication date1999-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenuePsychosomatic Medicine (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0033-3174 • E-ISSN: 1534-7796
PublisherOvid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1097/00006842-199905000-00002
PMID10367603
OpenAlexW1965472365
LanguageEN
Citations received7
References cited48

OBJECTIVE: Epidemiological data suggest that the presence of a depressed mood combined with cigarette smoking increases the risk of cancer at sites associated with smoking and at sites not associated with smoking. This study tested the hypothesis that major depression and smoking together contribute to a decline of natural killer cell (NK) activity, an immune parameter thought to be important in immune surveillance. METHODS: A sample of 245 men were stratified into four groups: control subjects who were not smokers, control subjects who were smokers, subjects with major depression who were not smokers, and subjects with major depression who were smokers. Blood samples were obtained for measurement of total white blood cell (WBC) counts, differential cell counts, and assay of NK activity. RESULTS: Major depression and cigarette smoking interact and were together associated with changes in WBC counts and NK activity. Depressed subjects who were smokers had higher WBC counts (p < .001) and lower NK activity (p < .01) than depressed nonsmoking subjects. However, WBC counts and NK activity were similar in control smokers and nonsmokers. Backward elimination regression analyses showed that the interaction of depression and smoking significantly (p < .001) predicted WBC counts and NK activity. CONCLUSIONS: This study extends previous findings of immune alterations in patients with major depression. Major depression and smoking interact and together contribute to an elevation of total WBC count and a decline of NK activity

Biology · Cigarette smoking · Cytotoxic T cell · Depression (economics) · Immune system · Mood · Natural killer cell · Psychiatry · White blood cell · Immune Cell Function and Interaction · Immunology · Inflammatory Biomarkers in Disease Prognosis · Internal Medicine · Medicine · Physiology · Tryptophan and brain disorders