A recent Korean study revealed that severe depression may not only be related to the brain, but also includes disorders in the immune system, which could open doors to more accurate diagnosis and treatment.
Severe depression is linked to immune system dysfunction, not just brain dysfunction! A Korean study confirms this.
Researchers analyzed a small group of young women with atypical severe depression and psychotic symptoms, comparing them to mentally healthy participants. They found that the patients' blood contained elevated levels of proteins associated with neural tissue, such as DCLK3 and CALY, as well as inflammatory molecules like complement component C5, along with a shift in immune cell composition toward chronic inflammation, characterized by an increase in neutrophils and monocytes and a decrease in lymphocytes.
To assess the impact of these changes on the brain, scientists developed miniature brain organoids from the participants' blood cells. They found that organoids derived from diseased blood grew more slowly, were smaller, and contained fewer neurons and a greater number of dead cells. These organoids also exhibited an exaggerated response to stressors compared to healthy organoids.
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The researchers suggest that severe depression in these cases may reflect a simultaneous dysfunction in both the nervous and immune systems, and that the DCLK3, CALY, and C5 protein clusters, with their characteristics of brain organoids, could form the basis for more objective diagnostic tests and the identification of the most appropriate treatment. However, the study emphasizes the need for further research to confirm these findings.
The study was published in the journal Advanced Science.
