Females suffer from depression at twice the rate of males and have differential neural and emotional responses to inflammation. However, sex-specific evaluation of relationships between inflammation and response to depression treatments are lacking. Some data suggest that interleukin(IL)-8 predicts treatment response to antidepressants and shows a sex-dependent relationship with depressive symptom severity. This study examines whether IL-8 predicts treatment response to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), and whether there are sex specific effects. In 40 depressed patients (22 female), plasma levels of IL-8, as well as other markers of inflammation including IL-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and C-reactive protein (CRP) were obtained prior to administration of ECT and after completion of the index treatment series. Depression treatment response was defined as ≥50% reduction in Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) Score. Baseline levels of IL-8 differed by responder status, depending on sex (group x sex interaction: β = -0.571, p=0.04), with female responders having lower levels of IL-8 at baseline as compared to female non-responders [t(20)=2.37, p=0.03]. Further, IL-8 levels from baseline to end of treatment differed by responder status, depending on sex (group x sex x time interaction: [F(1,36)=9.48, p= 0.004]), and change in IL-8 from baseline to end of treatment was negatively correlated with percentage change in HAM-D score in females (β= -0.458, p=0.03), but not in males (β= 0.315, p=0.20). Other inflammatory markers did not differ in relation to responder status and sex. Further evaluation of sex differences in the relationship between IL-8, depression, and treatment response, across disparate treatment modalities, may inform mechanisms of response and aid in development of personalized medicine strategies.

中文翻译：

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炎症和抑郁症治疗对电休克疗法的反应：白细胞介素 8 的性别特异性作用

女性患抑郁症的几率是男性的两倍，并且对炎症有不同的神经和情绪反应。然而，缺乏对炎症和对抑郁症治疗反应之间关系的性别特异性评估。一些数据表明，白细胞介素 (IL)-8 可预测对抗抑郁药的治疗反应，并显示出与抑郁症状严重程度的性别依赖性关系。本研究检查 IL-8 是否可以预测对电休克疗法 (ECT) 的治疗反应，以及是否存在性别特异性效应。在 40 名抑郁症患者（22 名女性）中，血浆 IL-8 水平以及其他炎症标志物包括 IL-6、IL-10、肿瘤坏死因子 (TNF)-α 和 C 反应蛋白 (CRP)在 ECT 给药前和指标治疗系列完成后获得。抑郁症治疗反应定义为汉密尔顿抑郁量表（HAM-D）评分降低≥50%。IL-8 的基线水平因应答者状态而异，取决于性别（组 x 性别相互作用：β = -0.571，p=0.04），与女性无应答者相比，女性应答者的基线 IL-8 水平较低 [ t(20)=2.37，p=0.03]。此外，从基线到治疗结束的 IL-8 水平因应答者状态而异，取决于性别（组 x 性别 x 时间交互：[F(1,36)=9.48, p=0.004]）和 IL-8 的变化从基线到治疗结束与女性 HAM-D 评分的百分比变化呈负相关（β= -0.458，p=0.03），但与男性无关（β= 0.315，p=0.20）。其他炎症标志物在反应者状态和性别方面没有差异。进一步评估IL-8之间的性别差异，