The Possible Role of NLRP3 Inflammasome in Depression and Myocardial Infarction Comorbidity

Abstract

It is well-established that cardiovascular disease and depression are highly comorbid. This study aimed to assess the possible role of the NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome pathway and the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) in patients with incident myocardial infarction in the presence or absence of depression. Sixty-eight consecutive patients with incident ST-elevation myocardial infarction and twenty healthy subjects were included. The patients were assessed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 Disorders—Clinician Version during their 1–4-day-long hospitalization and were divided into two groups: with and without comorbid depression. Blood samples for the determination of NLRP3, interleukin-18 (IL-18), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and hsCRP levels were analyzed using ELISA. NLRP3, IL-1β, IL-18, and hsCRP levels were significantly higher in myocardial infarction patients compared to the healthy group (p = 0.02, p p p p = 0.015, OR = 1.72, and CI = 1.11–2.66). The likelihood of depression is associated with increasing NLRP3 levels in myocardial infarction patients. However, this potential role should be further explored in a larger sample.

Keywords

• depression
• <i>hs</i>CRP
• myocardial infarction
• NLRP3
• NOD-like receptor protein 3