The activation of monocyte and T cell networks in patients with bipolar disorder

Objectives: We recently described a monocyte pro-inflammatory state in patients with bipolar disorder (BD). We hypothesized that the CD4(+)T cell system is also activated and determined percentages of Th1, Th2, Th17 and CD4(+)CD25(high)FoxP3(+) regulatory T cells.

Methods: We carried out a detailed FACS analysis to determine the various T cell subsets and used frozen stored peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of 38 BD patients (of whom we previously had tested monocytes for pro-inflammatory gene expression (Drexhage et al., 2010b; Padmos et al., 2008)) and of 22 age/gender matched healthy controls (HC). In addition the cytokines CCL2, IL-beta, INF-alpha, PTX3, IL-10, IFN-gamma, IL-17A, IL-4, IL-5 and IL-22 were measured in serum.

Results: (a) Serum sCD25 levels and percentages of anti-inflammatory CD4(+)CD25(high)FoxP3+ regulatory T cells were higher, the latter in BD patients

Conclusion: Our data show an enhancement of pro-inflammatory monocyte and anti-inflammatory T cell forces in BD patients. A lack of anti-inflammatory T cell forces co-occurred with AITD in BD patients. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.