Prolonged desipramine treatment increases the production of interleukin-10, an anti-inflammatory cytokine, in C57BL/6 mice subjected to the chronic mild stress model of depression

Background Depression is associated with activation of the inflammatory response system (IRS). In humans, antidepressants significantly increase the production of interleukin-10 (IL-10), a negative immunoregulatory cytokine. The aims of the present study were to examine the effects of desipramine, a tricyclic antidepressant, on the IRS in C57BL/6 mice with and without exposure to chronic mild stress (CMS). Methods: We examined the effects of desipramine on the cytotoxic activity of natural killer (NK) cells, the proliferative responses of lymphocytes after stimulation with IL-1, IL-2, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), concanavaline-A (Con-A), phytohaemagglutinin-P (PHA), pokeweed mitogen (PWM), and anti-CD3 monoclonal antibodies, the production of IL-2, IL-4, IL-10 and interferon-gamma (IFN gamma) by T lymphocytes and the ability of B cells to proliferate after stimulation by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Results: Prolonged treatment of C57BL/6 mice subjected to CMS with desipramine increases the ability of T cells to produce IL-IO and the ability of B cells to proliferate after stimulation with LPS; and significantly decreases the cytotoxic activity of NK cells and the proliferative responses of lymphocytes after stimulation with Con-A, PHA and anti-CD3 monoclonal antibodies. Repeated administration of desipramine to non-stressed mice increases the activity of T lymphocytes, lowers that of B lymphocytes, increases the production of IL-IO by T cells and has no significant effect on the activity of NK cells. Conclusion: Prolonged desipramine treatment of stressed and non-stressed C57BL/6 mice induces an increase in the production of IL-IO, an anti-inflammatory cytokine. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.