The adapter proteins of TLRs, TRIF and MYD88, are upregulated in depressed individuals

Abstract

Background and aims. TRIF and MYD88 are intracellular adaptor proteins for TLR signaling, and altered expression of these molecules can lead to defective or unregulated immune responses. Furthermore, previous studies revealed that depression may alter immune responses, but its mechanisms of action are unclear yet. There is a possibility that immunity and depression are linked through molecules such as TRIF and MYD88, thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the mRNA levels of TRIF and MYD88 in the PBMCs isolated from depressed medical students. Material and methods. The current study examined 38 depressed medical students studying in Iran and 43 healthy students from the same cohort as a control group. The mRNA levels of TRIF and MYD88 were examined in parallel with a housekeeping gene using real-time PCR. Results. Our results demonstrated that expression of TRIF and MYD88 were significantly elevated in PBMCs isolated from depressed patients when compared to healthy subjects. Conclusions. Based on the current results, it seems that chronic inflammation in depressed patients correlates to the over expression of TRIF and MYD88 genes. Our results show a possible link between the reported increases of chronic inflammation in depressed individuals with unbalanced expression of genes that regulate immunity.

Keywords::

• Depression
• TRIF
• MYD88
• Toll-like receptor
• real-time PCR

Acknowledgements

Authors of this article would like take this opportunity to thank all of the depressed student patients and healthy controls who attended and cooperated in this research program.

Statement of interest

None of the authors reports conflicts of interest.

This project was supported by a grant from the Shahid Bahonar University