ArticlePloS one2023
Altered serum TNF-α and MCP-4 levels are associated with the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder: A case-control study results.
Article in PloS one, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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10 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 13 citations in OpenAlex.
- Inflammatory biomarkers and oral microbiome alterations in depression and anxiety disorders: a systematic review.The world journal of biological psychiatry : the official journal of the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry · 2026Pooled it
- Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Psychiatric Comorbidities Among the Hospitalized Patients in Bangladesh: A Cross-Sectional Study.Health science reports · 2026Article
- Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors for Anxiety, Depression, and Insomnia Among University Students in Bangladesh: A Cross-Sectional Study.Health science reports · 2026Article
- The Metabolic Signatures Associated with the Effects of Aerobic Exercise on Depressive-like Behaviors in CUMS Rats.Metabolites · 2026Article
- Altered eotaxin-1 and interleukin-34 levels in obsessive-compulsive disorder: a case-control observational study in Bangladesh.Osong public health and research perspectives · 2025Article
- Exploring the role of TNF-α, TGF-β, and IL-6 serum levels in categorical and noncategorical models of mood and psychosis.Scientific reports · 2024Article
- Evaluation of serum interleukin-12 and interleukin-4 as potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of major depressive disorder.Scientific reports · 2024Article
- Serum levels of interleukin-33 and mesencephalic astrocyte derived neurotrophic factors in patients with major depressive disorder: a cross-sectional comparative design.BMC psychiatry · 2024Article
- Evaluation of serum MIP-1β and MCP-2 levels in major depressive disorder: A case-control study.PloS one · 2024Article
- Neonatal sevoflurane exposure induces plasma biomarkers of inflammation in infant rhesus macaques.Neurotoxicology and teratologyArticle
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Authors and funding
7 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.
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No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundMajor Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a debilitating mental health condition with complex etiology, and recent research has focused on pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines as potential contributors to its pathogenesis. However, studies investigating the roles of TNF-α and MCP-4 in MDD within the Bangladeshi population are scarce. This study aimed to assess the association between serum TNF-α and MCP-4 levels and the severity of MDD, exploring their potential as risk indicators for MDD development.
methodsThis case-control study enrolled 58 MDD patients from Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh, alongside 30 age, sex, and BMI-matched healthy controls. MDD diagnosis followed DSM-5 criteria and disease severity using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (Ham-D). We measured serum TNF-α and MCP-4 levels using ELISA assays according to the supplied protocols.
resultsThe study revealed significantly elevated serum TNF-α levels in MDD patients (47±6.6 pg/ml, mean±SEM) compared to controls (28.06±1.07 pg/ml). These increased TNF-α levels positively correlated with Ham-D scores (Pearson's r = 0.300, p = 0.038), suggesting a potential association between peripheral TNF-α levels and MDD pathology. Additionally, MDD patients exhibited significantly higher serum MCP-4 levels (70.49±6.45 pg/ml) than controls (40.21±4.08 pg/ml). However, serum MCP-4 levels showed a significant negative correlation (r = -0.270, P = 0.048) with Ham-D scores in MDD patients, indicating a more complex role for MCP-4 in MDD pathogenesis.
conclusionThis study highlights that Bangladeshi MDD patients exhibit heightened inflammatory and immune responses compared to controls, supporting the cytokine hypothesis in MDD pathogenesis. Serum TNF-α, but not MCP-4, shows promise as a potential biomarker for assessing the risk of MDD development, which could aid in early detection. Future investigations involving larger populations and longitudinal studies are essential to confirm the utility of these cytokines as biomarkers for MDD.
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