Serum TNFα and IL-17A levels may predict increased depressive symptoms: findings from the Shika Study cohort project in Japan.

Background: Low-grade systemic inflammation may be a key player in the immune activation that has been reported for mental health deterioration. We hypothesised that elevated serum levels of inflammatory cytokines increase neuroinflammation and exacerbate depressive symptoms.

Methods: The participants were part of a cohort study for whom data was available for both 2015 and 2019. In 2015, blood samples were collected from 232 participants. Their depressive symptoms were assessed both 2015 and 2019 using the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) (n = 33). The multiplex immunoassay system (Luminex® 200) was used to measure the serum concentrations of IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, IL-17A and TNFα. Data were analysed using linear models with the level of significance considered to be p < 0.05.

Results: After controlling for age, BMI, smoking and alcohol consumption, in 2015 the serum concentrations of IL-17A and TNFα in 2015 were significantly positively associated with the CES-D scores of women (standardised β (B) = .027, p < 0.01 and B = 0.26, p < 0.01, respectively). The serum concentrations of IL-17A and TNFα of men were significantly positively associated with the CES-D scores of 2019 (B = 0.62, p = 0.02 and B = 0.59, p = 0.02, respectively).

Conclusions: In this cross-sectional study, we found a significant positive correlation between the depressive symptoms and serum TNFα and IL-17A levels of women. In addition, our longitudinal findings suggest the possibility that TNFα and IL-17A could elevate the depressive symptoms of men.