Depression, immunocompetence, and prostaglandins of the E series

Abstract

Plasma prostaglandin E₁ and E₂, and quantitative and qualitative measures of immune function, were determined in depressed patients and healthy controls. Prostaglandin E₂ was significantly elevated in the depressed group, and prostaglandin E₁ showed a trend in the same direction. Lymphocyte stimulation responses, as measured by phytohemagglutinin, concanavalin A, and pokeweed mitogen, were significantly lower in the depressed group. Helper and suppressor T cell percentages did not significantly differ in the two populations. In the depressed group, prostaglandin E₁ showed a significant inverse correlation with concanavalin A, and prostaglandin E₂ showed a similar trend. These preliminary data suggest prostaglandins of the E series may be related to abnormalities of cellular immunity previously documented in depression.