Treatment with interferon-alpha (ifnα) of hepatitis c patients induces lower serum dipeptidyl peptidase iv activity, which is related to ifnα-induced depressive and anxiety symptoms and immune activation

ABSTRACT We have shown that treatment with interleukin-2 (IL-2) or interferon-α (IFNα) may induce depressive symptoms and activation of the cytokine network and that IL-2 treatment may

diminish serum dipeptidyl pepdidase IV (DPP IV) activity.1–3 DPP IV (EC 3.4.14.5) is a membrane bound serine protease which catalyzes the cleavage of some cytokines and neuroactive peptides

which modulate T cell activity.4 The aims of the present study were to examine the effects of IFNα-based immunotherapy on serum DPP IV activity in relation to induction of the inflammatory

response system. In 18 patients with chronic active hepatitis C, we determined the Montgomery and Asberg Rating Scale (MADRS),5 the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A),6 serum DPP IV

activity, the kynurenine/tryptophan (K/T) quotient, which is an indicator of cytokine (in particular IFN)-induced catabolism of tryptophan,7 and serum interleukin-8 (IL-8) before starting

therapy and 2, 4, 16 and 24 weeks after immunotherapy with IFNα. IFNα-immunotherapy significantly suppressed serum DPP IV 2–4 weeks and 16–24 weeks after starting IFNα-based immunotherapy.

The reduction in serum DPP IV activity was more pronounced 16–24 weeks after starting immunotherapy than after 2–4 weeks. The IFNα-induced suppression of serum DPP IV activity was

significantly correlated to IFNα-induced increases in the MADRS and HAM-A and increases in the K/T quotient and serum IL-8. In conclusion, long-term immunotherapy with IFNα suppresses serum

DPP IV activity and the immunotherapy-induced changes in DPP IV are related to increases in severity of depression, anxiety and activation of the inflammatory response system. Access through

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Download references ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This work was supported by a grant from the National Council for Research No. 203.04.17 of 09/06/97. We would like to thank Professor Dr S Scharpe, Dr I

DeMeester and C Durinx for their valuable help. AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands M Maes 

& S Bonaccorso * Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, USA M Maes, S Bonaccorso & H Meltzer * Psychiatric Hospital, University ‘La Sapienza’, Rome, Italy S

Bonaccorso, V Marino, A Puzella, M Pasquini & M Biondi * Department of Hepatology, I Medical Clinic, University ‘La Sapienza’, Rome, Italy M Artini & C Almerighi Authors * M Maes

View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * S Bonaccorso View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * V

Marino View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * A Puzella View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar *

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and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Maes, M., Bonaccorso, S., Marino, V. _et al._ Treatment with interferon-alpha (IFNα) of hepatitis C patients induces lower serum

dipeptidyl peptidase IV activity, which is related to IFNα-induced depressive and anxiety symptoms and immune activation. _Mol Psychiatry_ 6, 475–480 (2001).

https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.mp.4000872 Download citation * Received: 12 September 2000 * Revised: 02 January 2001 * Accepted: 04 January 2001 * Published: 09 July 2001 * Issue Date: 01 July

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not currently available for this article. Copy to clipboard Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative KEYWORDS * interferon * cytokines * depression * anxiety *

peptidases * dipeptidyl peptidase IV