Evidence for an inhibitory immunomodulatory effect of selected antidepressants on rat splenocytes: Possible relevance to depression and hyperactive-immune disorders

Michal Taler, Meytal Bar, Inna Korob, Liat Lomnitski, Ehud Baharav, Nurit Grunbaum-Novak, Abraham Weizman, Irit Gil-Ad

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

34 Scopus citations

Abstract

Antidepressants have been found to possess antiproliferative effect. In the immune system depression may activate pro-inflammatory cytokines. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the immunomodulatory activity of antidepressants in naïve rat. Rat splenocytes were activated with con A and treated with paroxetine, sertraline or clomipramine ex vivo. We found that the antidepressants inhibit cell viability and proliferation at IC50 of 5-8 μM of mitogen-stimulated rat splenocytes. This inhibitory effect was accompanied by cell cycle arrest and increase in apoptotic events as assayed by FACS. Moreover, antidepressants decrease the secretion of the TH1 factor - TNFα. In addition, the antidepressants reduced the expression of the enzyme cyclooxygenase2 which is involved in inflammation. On the cellular level we show the up-regulation of MAPK death signaling pathway and suppression of the anti-apoptotic factor - Bcl-2. These findings reveal the immunomodulatory effect of the selected antidepressants. These data suggest a novel use of antidepressants or their derivatives.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)526-533
Number of pages8
JournalInternational Immunopharmacology
Volume8
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2008
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Antidepressants
  • Apoptosis
  • Cytokines
  • SSRIs
  • Splenocytes
  • TNFα

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