Background: Pro-inflammatory cytokines have been implicated in the pathophysiology of post-stroke depression (PSD), and it is known that their production levels are influenced by the transcriptional activity of genetic polymorphisms. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the roles of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-1β in the serum on the risk of PSD while taking into account the TNF-α −850C/T and −308G/A polymorphisms and the IL-1β −511C/T and +3953C/T polymorphisms.
Methods: A total of 286 patients were evaluated at 2 weeks after stroke and 222 (78%) of these patients were followed up 1 year later. Depressive (major or minor) disorders were diagnosed according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) criteria during both examinations; evaluations of cytokine concentrations and polymorphisms and demographic and clinical covariates were performed at 2 weeks. The effects of TNF-α and IL-1β concentrations and genotypes on PSD status were investigated using multivariate logistic regression models.
Results: Higher TNF-α levels were associated with PSD at 2 weeks in the presence of the −850T allele with a significant interaction term; higher IL-1β levels were associated with PSD at 2 weeks in the presence of the –511T allele with a borderline significant interaction term and with any +3953C/T polymorphism without a significant interaction term. No associations were found with PSD at 1 year.
Conclusions: These findings indicate the important roles that TNF-α and IL-1β serum levels play regarding the risk of PSD, particularly during the acute phase of stroke and in patients with genetic susceptibility.