Deakin University
Browse

Inhibitory effect of antidepressant drugs on contact hypersensitivity reaction

journal contribution
posted on 2012-01-01, 00:00 authored by M Kubera, K Curzytek, M Majewska-Szczepanik, M Szczepanik, K Marcinska, W Ptak, M Leskiewicz, M. Maes, A Basta-Kaim, B Budziszewska, J Detka, W Duda, W Lason
Background: Contact hypersensitivity (CS) reaction in the skin is T-cell mediated immune reaction which plays a major role in the pathogenesis and chronicity of various inflammatory skin disorders and, like other delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reactions, affords immunity against tumor cells and microbes. CS response is a self-limiting reaction, and interleukin (IL)-10 is considered to be a natural suppressant of cutaneous inflammatory response. Recently, it has been demonstrated that major depression is related to activation of the inflammatory response and elevation of some parameters of cell-mediated immunity. It has been suggested that such activation of the immune system may play a role in etiology of depression. If this immunoactivation is involved in etiology of depression, one would expect that antidepressant agents may have negative immunoregulatory effects. To the best of our knowledge, the effect of antidepressants on contact hypersensitivity has not been studied.

Methods: The aim of the present study was to establish the effect of prolonged desipramine or fluoxetine treatment on CS reaction to picryl chloride.

Results: Antidepressants significantly suppressed CS reaction, fluoxetine by 53% whereas desipramine by 47% compared to positive control. Moreover, desipramine and fluoxetine decreased relative weight of auxillary lymph nodes. Desipramine decreased also relative weight of inguinal lymph nodes and spleens whereas desipramine and fluoxetine increased production of IL-10 in comparison to positive control.

Conclusion: The observed effect of antidepressant drugs on CS reaction is consistent with the hypothesis that T-cell mediated immunity is targeted by antidepressants.

History

Journal

Pharmacological reports

Volume

64

Issue

3

Pagination

714 - 722

Publisher

Polska Akademia Nauk, Instytut Farmakologii

Location

Krakow, Poland

ISSN

1734-1140

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2012, by Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences