Decreased serum levels of thrombospondin‐1 in female depressed patients

AIM: Thrombospondin‐1 (TSP‐1) is an astrocyte‐derived synaptogenesis‐related factor. It was previously reported to be increased by chronic treatment of electroconvulsive seizure, a model of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), in rat hippocampus. The aim of this study was to examine whether serum levels of TSP‐1 are associated with depression and ECT. METHODS: Serum TSP‐1 levels of major depressive disorder (MDD) patients (n = 36) and age‐ and gender‐matched healthy controls (n = 36) were measured by TSP‐1 ELISA. MDD patients were diagnosed according to the Diagnostics and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders‐IV‐TR and underwent ECT. MDD patients were also analyzed for serum TSP‐1 levels pre‐ and post‐ECT. Evaluation of symptoms was obtained using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. RESULTS: Serum TSP‐1 levels showed significant decreases specific to female MDD patients. However, TSP‐1 did not change pre‐ and post‐ECT, did not correlate with symptoms, nor was not affected by the dose of antidepressants. CONCLUSION: Serum TSP‐1 is a possible female‐specific factor that reflects depressive trait, but not state.