Examining Nesfatin-1 and Ghrelin Hormone in Severity of Depression

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The major depressive disorder (MDD) is a serious mental and psychiatric disease. Previous studies have shown that MDD may have important effects on nesfatin-1 and acylated, desacylated ghrelin hormones. In the present study, we were purposed to examine changes the nesfatin-1 (anorexigenic) and ghrelin (orexigenic) levels in patients with severe MDD. METHODS: TTwenty subjects (10 patients with severe MDD and 10 healthy controls) participated in this study. Fasting venous blood samples were taken at onset of the study both patients and control groups. Serum acylated and desacylated ghrelin, nesfatin-1 levels were measured using ELISA methods. RESULTS: The basal nesfatin-1 level in MDD was found to be significantly higher (3.97+-0.1 ng/mL) compared to the control group level (1.11+-0.1 ng/mL) (p < 0.0001). Basal acylated (88.1+-1.1 pg/ml) and desacylated ghrelin level (956.0+-22.1 pg/ml) were found to be significantly lower in MDD group compared to the control (108.8+-2.2 vs 1063.7+-44.4 pg/mL), respectively (p < 0.0001). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Observation of high nesfatin-1 and low acylated and desacylated ghrelin levels in patients with severe MDD compared to the control level could be an important criteria to evaluate patients current status. Further studies are needed to understand this relationship between MDD and nesfatin-1 and ghrelin levels.

Keywords

• nesfatin-1
• ghrelin
• major depressive disorders
• elisa methods