Elevated plasma thymopoietin associated
with therapeutic nonresponsiveness in major depression
by
Goldstein G, Fava M, Culler M,
Fisher A, Rickels K, Lydiard RB, Rosenbaum J
Thymon, L.L.C., (GG), Short Hills, New Jersey, USA
Biol Psychiatry 2000 Jul 1; 48(1):65-69

ABSTRACT

Background: Stress predisposes to major depression, and hyperactivity of the stress-activated hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis occurs in this disease. Thymopentin, an active fragment of thymopoietin (TP), reduces endocrine and behavioral responses to experimental stress, possibly by lowering plasma TP (pTP) levels. Methods: Plasma TP and the HPA hormones arginine vasopressin (pAVP), adrenocorticotropic hormone (pACTH), and plasma cortisol (pCORT) were measured in 21 untreated depressed patients and 21 matched control subjects. Clinical responses to antidepressants were evaluated in 17 depressed patients. Results: Plasma TP was elevated in depression (p <.002), with in 8 out of 21 (38%) depressed patients having significant elevations (p <.03). For 17 patients whose antidepressant responses were evaluated, nonresponsiveness occurred in 6 out of 7 (86%) with elevated pTP (>7.5 pg/mL) versus 3 out of 10 (30%) with normal pTP (p <.05). Conclusions: The significant association of elevated pTP with nonresponsiveness to antidepressant drugs may signify a distinct pathogenesis for the depression of patients with elevated pTP.

CRF
LHPA
Stress
Astressin
Metyrapone
Ketoconazole
Noradrenaline
Corticosteroids
Cushing's Syndrome
Glucocorticoids and mood
Hippocampal remodelling
HPA axis, serotonin and suicide
Depression, opioids and the HPA

Refs
and further reading

HOME
HedWeb
Nootropics
cocaine.wiki
Future Opioids
BLTC Research
MDMA/Ecstasy
Superhapiness?
Utopian Surgery?
The Abolitionist Project
The Hedonistic Imperative
The Reproductive Revolution
Critique of Huxley's Brave New World

The Good Drug Guide
The Responsible Parent's Guide
To Healthy Mood Boosters For All The Family