Washington [US], January 28 (ANI): While antibiotics are widely used to treat bacterial infections and other illnesses, a new study has suggested that minocycline, an antibiotic with anti – inflammatory properties, has improved the symptoms of depression in patients with low-grade peripheral inflammation.
The findings of the study were published in the journal ‘Neuropsychopharmacology’. According to the study led by King’s College London researchers minocycline helped improve the symptoms of depression in patients with depression who are resistant to treatment with low-grade peripheral inflammation.
In a randomized clinical trial of MINDEP (MINocycline in DEPression), 39 patients with depressive disorder were recruited from South London-affiliated services and the Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) and through public advertisement.
The trial took place at the NIHR King’s Clinical Research Facility / Wellcome Trust at King’s College Hospital. The patients, who were taking their usual antidepressant treatment, were divided into two groups, one group took a placebo tablet (sugar pill) daily while the other group took daily minocycline with the their usual treatment for 4 weeks.
Both groups showed a similarly significant improvement in depressive symptoms as measured by the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D). However, patients with higher C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, showing low-grade inflammation, showed a greater improvement in their depressive symptoms while taking minocycline.
Author Dr Valeria Mondelli, Clinical Reader in Psychoneuroimmunology at the Institute of Psychology, Psychology and Non-Psychology, King’s College London, and Chief Examiner of the trial, said, “Our findings are very interesting. because we show that patients with higher levels of C reactive protein (inflammatory biomarker) show a good response in reducing the symptoms of depression after treatment with minocycline. “
“Of the many patients with depression who do not respond to conventional antidepressant treatment, we have shown in previous studies that this may be due to higher levels of inflammation in at least two-thirds of patients. Now, with this study, we are identifying potential new effective treatments for these patients, “Mondelli said.
Patients were predicted response through a blood sample to measure biological markers and clinical evaluation at baseline visit and within 14 days of trial completion.
Researchers also found that levels of two biological markers, CRP and IL-6, can be used to predict the minocycline response in depression. The study identified a specific threshold of CRP levels associated with antidepressant effects of minocycline treatment.
Another inflammatory symptom, interferon-gamma, was reduced by treatment with minocycline but not by placebo, suggesting specific pathways affecting minocycline on depressive symptoms.
Dr Mondelli said, “We also identified the level of CRP levels associated with response to this anti-inflammatory treatment. This is very important as we may be able to easily identify these patients with a blood test. who are to benefit from treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs that have already been used for other medical conditions and are therefore readily available. “
Dr Maria Antonietta Nettis, lead author and Clinical Research Associate at the Institute of Psychology, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, said, “Unifying the measurement of biological markers such as CRP in the first place could Patient assessments help identify potential respondents to minocycline, which may. this could be very safe and well tolerated to treat in immunosuppressive depression.
Although reactions are needed in larger samples, the researchers felt that their study had potential clinical implications, as they moved a step toward identifying treatments. personalized for major depressive disorder (MDD).
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This story was published from a wire group group with no text changes.
