The mediating role of cytokines and glucocorticoid receptors in the relationship between childhood trauma and adolescent depression
10.3760/cma.j.cn113661-20231106-00189
- VernacularTitle:细胞因子及糖皮质激素受体在童年创伤与青少年抑郁症间的中介作用
- Author:
Xiaoman WANG
1
;
Na LI
;
Tianshu LI
;
Shujing YAO
;
Yaxing ZHANG
;
Hong YOU
;
Yuan TIAN
;
Guixing JIN
;
Yuanyuan ZHAO
Author Information
1. 河北医科大学第一医院精神卫生中心 河北省精神卫生研究所，石家庄050031
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Adolescent;
Depression;
Cytokines;
Glucocorticoid;
Receptors
- From:
Chinese Journal of Psychiatry
2024;57(8):485-494
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To explore the role of cytokines and glucocorticoid receptors (GR) in adolescent depression and childhood trauma.Methods:Using convenient sampling,80 adolescents with depression were recruited from the in-patient department of the Mental Health Center,First Hospital of Hebei Medical University from August 2021 to December 2022. Meanwhile,70 healthy adolescents were recruited to participate in the study. Life and learning stress,childhood trauma,anxiety and depression symptoms were evaluated using adolescent Life Events Scale,Childhood Trauma Questionnaire,Hamilton Depression Scale-17 (HAMD 17) and Hamilton Anxiety Scale(HAMA). Serum glucocorticoid receptor and plasma 12 cytokines were also detected. SPSS 25.0 and AMOS 26.0 was used for statistical analysis. The rank sum test or Chi-square test was used to compare the demographic data and blood indicators between adolescents with and without depression. Spearman method was used to examine the correlation between childhood trauma,GR,cytokines and depression. Maximum likelihood estimation method was performed to test the mediating effect,and the average path coefficient was obtained after testing the indirect path by Bootstrap method. If the 95% confidence interval ( CI) does not contain 0,the intermediary effect is significant. Results:There was significant difference in GR concentration between adolescents with and without depression ( Z=-10.50, P<0.001). IL-1β,IL-2,IL-5,IL-10,IL-12,IL-17 and IFN-α were also significantly different between the two groups. Spearman correlation analysis showed that HAMD 17 and HAMA scores were associated with emotional abuse,emotional neglect,physical abuse,CTQ total score and cytokine level IL-5,IFN-α were positively correlated. Physical neglect and IL-1β were only positively correlated with HAMD 17 score. GR was negatively associated with emotional abuse ( r=-0.523, P<0.001),emotional neglect ( r=-0.245, P=0.002),sexual abuse ( r=-0.172, P=0.035),physical abuse score ( r=-0.180, P=0.027),CTQ total score ( r=-0.562, P<0.001),HAMD 17 score ( r=-0.783--0.271, P<0.001),HAMA score( r=-0.741--0.602, P<0.001),IL-1β ( r=-0.217, P=0.008),IL-5 ( r=-0.334, P<0.001),and IFN-α ( r=-0.276, P=0.001). IL-5 level was positively correlated with emotional abuse score ( r=0.211, P=0.009) and CTQ total score ( r=0.201, P=0.014). IFN-α level was positively correlated with emotional abuse score ( r=0.207, P=0.011) and CTQ total score ( r=0.166, P=0.042). The mediating effect showed that GR played a partial mediating role between childhood trauma and depression (indirect effect: effect size 0.294, S.E. 0.043,95 %CI=0.236-0.398). GR and cytokine IL-5 play a chain mediating role between childhood trauma and depression (indirect effect: effect size 0.067, S.E. 0.040,95 %CI=0.023-0.147). Conclusion:GR,and cytokine IL-5 play a mediating role between adolescent depression and childhood trauma.
