Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29070016›Full record

ArticleBMC psychiatry2017

Investigating the epigenetic profile of the inflammatory gene IL-6 in late-life depression.

Joanne Ryan, Lauren Pilkington, Katharina Neuhaus, Karen Ritchie, Marie-Laure Ancelin, Richard Saffery

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC psychiatry, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 25 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
25citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

25 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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  6. Pharmaco-Multiomics: A New Frontier in Precision Psychiatry.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025
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  20. Quality of life may be a more valuable prognostic factor than depression in older hemodialysis patients.Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation · 2020
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Joanne RyanDepartment of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. joanne.ryan@monash.edu.ORCID 0000-0002-7039-6325
Lauren PilkingtonCancer & Disease Epigenetics, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital & Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.
Katharina NeuhausCancer & Disease Epigenetics, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital & Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.
Karen RitchieINSERM, Univ Montpellier, Neuropsychiatry: Epidemiological and Clinical Research, Montpellier, France.
Marie-Laure AncelinINSERM, Univ Montpellier, Neuropsychiatry: Epidemiological and Clinical Research, Montpellier, France.
Richard SafferyCancer & Disease Epigenetics, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital & Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIt is well established that there is a link between inflammation and depression, with several studies reporting increased circulating levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-6 (IL6), in depressed individuals. Peripheral epigenetic marks, including DNA methylation, hold promise as biomarkers for a range of complex conditions, with potential to inform diagnosis and tailor interventions. The aim of this study was to determine whether individuals with depression display differential methylation of the IL6 gene promoter compared to individuals without depression.

methodsThe ESPRIT study of later life neuropsychiatric disorders used a random sampling framework to select non-institutionalised participants aged ≥65 years and over living in the Montpellier region of France. Major depressive disorder (MDD) was assessed using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) according to DSM-IV criteria. High levels of depressive symptoms were defined as a score of ≥16 on the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). IL6 promoter DNA methylation was measured on a sub-sample of 380 participants who provided buccal samples.

resultsIndividuals with depression (current MDD or high depressive symptoms) had lower IL6 methylation levels at one of the four sites investigated, however the effect size was small (∆ 2.4%, SE 0.009, p = 0.006). Interestingly, antidepressant use was independently associated with higher IL-6 methylation at the same site (∆ 4.6%, SE 0.019, p = 0.015). In multivariate linear regression analyses adjusting for covariates, including sex and smoking status, these associations remained. There was no effect modification when considering IL6 genotype.

conclusionThis study presents evidence that IL6 methylation may be a marker of depression status in older individuals, however further work is now needed to replicate these findings and to assess the association with inflammatory status of individuals.

Indexed as

AdultAgedDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental DisordersDNA MethylationFemaleFollow-Up StudiesFranceGenetic VariationGenotypeHumansInterleukin-6Major Depressive DisorderMaleIL6 protein, humanInterleukin-6AntidepressantsBuccalDNA methylationEpigeneticsIL6InflammationLate-life depression

Identifiers

PMID29070016
PMCPMC5657056

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.