Bipolar Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Bipolar, including details on bipolar disorder, symptoms, treatment, depression, medication.

T-helper types 1, 2, and 3 cytokine interactions in symptomatic manic patients.

Kim YK, Myint AM, Lee BH, Han CS, Lee SW, Leonard BE, Steinbusch HW

Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Korea University Ansan Hospital, College of Medicine, 516, Go-Jan Dong, Ansan City, Kyunggi Province, 425-070, Korea. yongku@korea.ac.kr

It has been reported that the balance between T-helper type 1 (Th1) cytokines and T-helper type 2 (Th2) cytokines plays a role in psychiatric disorders such as bipolar disorder. The T-helper type 3 (Th3) cytokine, which transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-beta1), has been shown to modulate the production of Th1 and Th2 cytokines. However, the role of TGF-beta1 in bipolar disorder has not yet been explored. A total of 70 manic patients with bipolar disorder and 96 normal controls was recruited. The plasma levels of IFN-gamma, IL-4, and TGF-beta1 were studied at the time of admission and 8 weeks after mood stabilizer treatment. The detection rate and plasma concentrations of IFN-gamma and IL-4 and the IFN-gamma/TGF-beta1 and IL-4/TGF-beta1 ratios were significantly higher in patients than in controls, while the TGF-beta1 level was significantly lower. The TGF-beta1 level increased significantly after treatment and the IFN-gamma/TGF-beta1 and IL-4/TGF-beta1 ratios returned to control values. TGF-beta1 may play a role in the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder through the action of TGF-beta1 in modulating the IL-4/TGF-beta1 ratio.

Published 21 January 2005 in Psychiatry Res, 129(3): 267-72.
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