Journal of Inflammation Research (Mar 2021)
Associations Between Tenascin-C and Testosterone Deficiency in Men with Major Depressive Disorder: A Cross-Sectional Retrospective Study
Abstract
Rui Peng, Yan Li Department of Clinical Laboratory, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430060, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Yan LiDepartment of Clinical Laboratory, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 238 Jiefang Road, Wuhan, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 2788071553Email [email protected]: Elevated levels of tenascin-C are linked to increased risk and severity of major depressive disorder (MDD), while testosterone shows a protective effect. The present study explored associations between serum levels of tenascin-C and testosterone in Chinese men with MDD.Methods: Testosterone and tenascin-C levels were measured in sera of 412 men with MDD and 237 age- and sex-matched controls. Serum levels of thyroid hormone, lipids, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were also quantified. Potential associations were examined using covariance, subgroup analysis, and multivariate linear regression analyses.Results: Significantly higher concentrations of tenascin-C were detected in sera of subjects with MDD than in controls. Among subjects with MDD, testosterone concentrations inversely correlated with tenascin-C levels. This relationship was observed when patients were stratified by age at onset; duration or severity of depression; or concentration of thyroid hormones, low- or high-density lipoprotein, or hs-CRP. The negative association remained even when the statistical model was adjusted for age, smoking status, alcohol use, and body mass index. Linear regression with bootstrap resampling confirmed that high tenascin-C levels inversely correlated with testosterone levels.Conclusion: In men with MDD, high tenascin-C concentrations correlate with testosterone deficiency. The combination of elevated tenascin-C and testosterone deficiency may be associated with MDD progression.Keywords: tenascin-C, testosterone, major depressive disorder
