Immune Cell Deformability in Depressive Disorders: Longitudinal Associations Between Depression, Glucocorticoids and Cell Deformability

BackgroundCell deformability of all major blood cell types is increased in depressive disorders (DD). Furthermore, impaired glucocorticoid secretion is causally related to DD. Nevertheless, there are no longitudinal studies examining changes in glucocorticoid output and depressive symptoms regarding cell deformability in DD. AimTo investigate, whether changes in depressive symptoms or hair glucocorticoids predict cell deformability in DD. MethodsIn 136 individuals, depressive symptoms (PHQ-9) and hair glucocorticoids (cortisol and cortisone) were measured at timepoint one (T1), while one year later (T2) depressive symptoms and hair glucocorticoids were remeasured and additionally cell deformability of peripheral blood cells was assessed and DD status was determined by clinical interview. ResultsDepression severity at T1 predicted higher cell deformability in monocytes and lymphocytes over the entire sample. Subjects with continuously high depressive symptoms at T1 and T2 showed elevated monocyte deformability as compared to subjects with low depressive symptoms. Depression severity at T1 of subjects with a lifetime persistent depressive disorder (PDD) was associated with elevated monocyte, neutrophil, and granulo-monocyte deformability. Depression severity at T1 of subjects with a 12-month PDD was positively associated with monocyte deformability. Furthermore, increases in glucocorticoid concentrations from T1 to T2 tended to be associated with higher immune cell deformability, while strongest associations emerged for the increase in cortisone with elevated neutrophil and granulo-monocyte deformability in the 12-month PDD group. ConclusionContinuously elevated depressive symptomatology as well as an increase in glucocorticoid levels over one year are associated with higher immune cell deformability, particularly in PDD. These findings suggest, that persistent depressive symptomatology associated with increased glucocorticoid secretion may lead to increased immune cell deformability thereby compromising immune cell function and likely contributing to the perpetuation of PDD.