Monomeric CRP and Negative Acute Phase Proteins but not pentameric CRP are biomarkers of major depression and especially major dysmood disorder.

BackgroundContrary to the negative acute-phase protein (APP) response, there is no consistent correlation between serum pentameric C-reactive protein (pCRP) and major depression (MDD). Monomeric CRP (mCRP), a dissociation product of pCRP under immune-inflammatory conditions, exhibits pro-inflammatory effects; however, it has not been investigated in MDD or its subtypes, major dysmood disorder (MDMD) and simple dysmood disorder (SDMD). ObjectiveTo examine serum mCRP, albumin, transferrin, M1 macrophage and Thelper-17 immune profiles, and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in MDD, MDMD and SDMD. MethodsSeventy-nine MDMD patients, 30 SDMD patients, and 40 controls were included. Serum mCRP was measured by ELISA; albumin, transferrin, and pCRP by biochemical assays; and cytokines using Luminex technology. ResultsMDMD patients showed significantly higher mCRP compared with SDMD and controls, while both patient groups exhibited reduced albumin and transferrin. Combining mCRP with albumin and transferrin showed an adequate accuracy for MDD (area under the ROC Curve = 0.793). Adding IL-17A and ACEs improved accuracy (ROC=0.855). Serum mCRP levels are additionally associated with pCRP, M1 macrophage profile, body mass index, and ACEs. Up to 36.6% of the variance in overall severity of depression was explained by mCRP, T-helper-17 profile, ACEs (all positively), albumin and transferrin (both inversely). ConclusionFuture research in MDD should employ mCRP rather than pCRP as a biomarker of depression/MDMD. Combining mCRP with biomarkers of the negative AP response shows that around 63.7% of MDD patients have a smoldering acute phase response with high specificity.