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Inhibitory effect of antidepressant drugs on contact hypersensitivity reaction

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Abstract

Background

Contact hypersensitivity (CS) reaction in the skin is T-cell mediated immune reaction which plays a major role in the pathogenesis and chronicity of various inflammatory skin disorders and, like other delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reactions, affords immunity against tumor cells and microbes. CS response is a self-limiting reaction, and interleukin (IL)-10 is considered to be a natural suppressant of cutaneous inflammatory response. Recently, it has been demonstrated that major depression is related to activation of the inflammatory response and elevation of some parameters of cell-mediated immunity. It has been suggested that such activation of the immune system may play a role in etiology of depression. If this immunoactivation is involved in etiology of depression, one would expect that antidepressant agents may have negative immunoregulatory effects. To the best of our knowledge, the effect of antidepressants on contact hypersensitivity has not been studied.

Methods

The aim of the present study was to establish the effect of prolonged desipramine or fluoxetine treatment on CS reaction to picryl chloride.

Results

Antidepressants significantly suppressed CS reaction, fluoxetine by 53% whereas desipramine by 47% compared to positive control. Moreover, desipramine and fluoxetine decreased relative weight of auxillary lymph nodes. Desipramine decreased also relative weight of inguinal lymph nodes and spleens whereas desipramine and fluoxetine increased production of IL-10 in comparison to positive control.

Conclusion

The observed effect of antidepressant drugs on CS reaction is consistent with the hypothesis that T-cell mediated immunity is targeted by antidepressants.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Experimental Neuroendocrinology, Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Smętna 12, PL 31-343, Kraków, Poland

    Marta Kubera, Katarzyna Curzytek, Monika Leśkiewicz, Agnieszka Basta-Kaim, Bogusława Budziszewska, Jan Detka, Weronika Duda & Władysław Lasoń

  2. Department of Human Developmental Biology, Collegium Medicum, Jagiellonian University, Kopernika 12, PL 31-034, Kraków, Poland

    Monika Majewska-Szczepanik, Marian Szczepanik, Katarzyna Marcińska & Włodzimierz Ptak

  3. Maes Clinic & TRIA, Piyavate Hospital, 998 Rimklongsamsen Road, Bangkok, 10310, Thailand

    Michael Maes

  4. Department of Biochemical Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Collegium Medicum, Jagiellonian University, Medyczna 9, PL 30-688, Kraków, Poland

    Bogusława Budziszewska

  5. Institute of Public Health, Collegium Medicum, Jagiellonian University, Grzegórzecka 20, PL 31-531, Kraków, Poland

    Władysław Lasoń

Authors
  1. Marta Kubera
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  2. Katarzyna Curzytek
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  3. Monika Majewska-Szczepanik
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  6. Włodzimierz Ptak
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  7. Monika Leśkiewicz
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  8. Michael Maes
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  9. Agnieszka Basta-Kaim
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  10. Bogusława Budziszewska
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  11. Jan Detka
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  12. Weronika Duda
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  13. Władysław Lasoń
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marta Kubera.

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Kubera, M., Curzytek, K., Majewska-Szczepanik, M. et al. Inhibitory effect of antidepressant drugs on contact hypersensitivity reaction. Pharmacol. Rep 64, 714–722 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1016/S1734-1140(12)70866-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1734-1140(12)70866-6

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