Depression Is Associated with Downregulation of IPS-1 in Chronic HBV-Infected Patients in a Sex-Dependent Manner

Abstract

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Depression and anxiety can modulate immune-related molecule expressions. The chronic HBV-infected (CHB) patients suffer from inappropriate immune responses. Additionally, psychological disorders are prevalent among the patients. Thus, depression and anxiety may alter immune-related molecule expression. This study aimed to examine IPS-1 and RIP1 mRNA levels in CHB patients suffering from various degrees of anxiety and depression. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Sixty patients with CHB participated in this research and completed standard questionnaires to evaluate depression and anxiety. The expression levels of IPS-1 and RIP1 were examined using real-time PCR techniques. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The result revealed that although the expression of IPS-1 and RIP1 did not change in the CHB patients with various ranges of depression and anxiety, IPS-1 was significantly decreased in the male CHB patients who suffered from mild, moderate, and severe depression when compared to the patients with no depression. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> So, it was hypothesized that depression may be associated with alteration in the expression of IPS-1 in a sex-dependent manner. In other words, it appears that the male CHB patients are at risk of depression-related alteration in immune-related gene expression.