Antibiotic may improve depressive symptoms in people with low-level inflammation: Study

Minocycline helped in improving depressive symptoms in patients with treatment-resistant

depression with low-grade peripheral inflammation, say researchers

Antibiotic may improve depressive symptoms in people with low-level inflammation: Study

Photo for representational purpose only.

While antibiotics are widely used to treat bacterial infections and other illnesses, a new research

suggested that minocycline, an antibiotic with anti-inflammatory properties, improved

depressive symptoms in patients with low-grade peripheral inflammation.

The findings of the study were published in the journal 'Neuropsycho pharmacology'.

According to the study led by King's College London researchers minocycline helped in

improving depressive symptoms in patients with treatment-resistant depression with low-grade

peripheral inflammation.

In a four-week randomised clinical MINDEP (Minocycline in Depression) trial, 39 patients

with major depressive disorder were recruited from services linked to South London and

Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and via public advertisement.

The trial took place at the NIHR/Wellcome Trust King's Clinical Research Facility at King's

College Hospital. The patients, who were taking their routine antidepressant treatment, were

split into two groups, one group took daily a placebo (sugar pill) tablet while the other group

took daily minocycline alongside their routine treatment for 4 weeks.

Both groups showed similar, significant improvement in depressive symptoms as measured by

the Hamilton Depression (HAM-D) Rating Scale. However, patients with higher C-reactive

protein (CRP) levels, indicating low-grade inflammation, showed greater improvement in their

depressive symptoms when taking minocycline.

Author Dr Valeria Mondelli, Clinical Reader in Psychoneuro immunology at Institute of

Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, and Principal Investigator

of the trial said, "Our findings are very exciting because we are showing that patients with

increased levels of C reactive protein (an inflammatory biomarker) show good response in

terms of reduction of depressive symptoms following treatment with minocycline."

"Of the many patients with depression who do not respond to usual antidepressant treatment,

we have shown in previous studies that in at least two-thirds of patients this could be due to the

increased levels of inflammation. Now, with this study, we are identifying a potential new

effective treatment for these patients," Mondelli added.

Predicting response patients underwent a blood sample to measure biological markers and a

clinical assessment at the baseline visit and within 14 days of the trial ending.

Researchers also found that levels of two biological markers, CRP and IL-6, can be used to

predict minocycline response in depression. The study identified a specific threshold of CRP

levels which is associated with the antidepressant effect of minocycline treatment.

Another inflammatory marker, interferon-gamma, was reduced by the treatment with

minocycline but not by placebo, suggesting specific pathways mediating the effects of

minocycline on depressive symptoms.

Dr Mondelli said, "We also identified the threshold of CRP levels that is associated with

response to this anti-inflammatory treatment. This is very important as we may be able to

identify with an easy blood test those patients who are going to benefit from treatment with an

anti-inflammatory medication which is already used for other medical conditions and therefore

easily available."

Dr Maria Antonietta Nettis, lead author and Clinical Research Associate at Institute of

Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, said, "Integrating the

measurement of biological markers such as CRP in patients' first assessments could help in

identifying potential responders to minocycline, which could be a relatively safe and well tolerated

addition to treatment in immune-related depression.”

Although replications in larger samples are needed, the researchers believed that their study

has a potentially important clinical impact, as they moved a step towards the identification of

personalized treatments for Major depressive disorder (MDD). 

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/health/antibiotic-may-improve-depressive-symptoms-inpeople-

with-low-level-inflammation-study-205141