To detect the number and function changes of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) from peripheral blood in patients with first-episode depression and explore their correlation with blood pressure,glucose,lipids,inflammation.

The study included thirty first-episode depression patients and 30 healthy controls.The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-24 (HAMD₂₄) was used to assess the severity of depression.Peripheral blood EPCs were counted by flow cytometry.Mononuclear cells (MNCs) was isolated from peripheral blood by ficoll density-gradients centrifugation.After 7 days of culture,EPC proliferation activity was determined by MTT assay.The plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 were assayed by using enzymelabeled chemiluminescent sequential immunometric assay.Additionally,the high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) was detected by turbidimetric immunoassay.

(1) Number and function activity of EPCs in patients were significantly lower than the controls[ (13.32±5.65) ×10³vs. (24.39±9.94) ×10³,(0.44±0.04)% vs. (0.61±0.05)%,t=-6.69,-14.23,P<0.05]. (2) Significant increase was observed in serum IL-6 and TNF-α level in patients[(8.76±3.18),(14.95±5.54) ng/L]compared with controls[(3.11±3.18),(4.67±2.23) ng/L,t=5.31,4.22,P<0.05] and these had negative correlation with the number and proliferation activity of EPCs. (3) By multiple linear stepwise regression analysis,HAMD and IL-6 were the independent factors affecting EPCs number (P<0.05).

The number and proliferation activity of EPCs are probably decreased in patients with first-episode depression,and neovascularization and repairment of damaged endothelium may be impaired in these patients,which could increase risk of coronary heart disease.

Depressive disorder; Interleukins; Endothelial progenitor cells