PHA-stimulated cellular immune function and T-lymphocyte subsets in major depressive disorders

We measured some immunological parameters in 20 hospitalized patients with major depression and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Both enumeration of immune cells, including T-lymphocyte subpopulations, and assay of T-cell function were studied. White blood cells were evaluated with an automated cell counter, T-cell subsets with an immunobead technique, and T-cell function with a phytohemagglutinin-induced proliferation in vitro assay. We found that T-lymphocyte responses to the mitogen were significantly lower in depressed patients than in controls. All the other parameters were normal. These findings suggest that functional but not numerical changes in T-lymphocytes characterize major depressive disorders.