Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the citotoxic activity of two commonly used anti-depressants: paroxetine and bupropion. We also evaluated the in vitro natural killer activity (NKA) after incubating the blood samples with the antidepressants. METHODS: Peripheral blood samples from 15 healthy volunteers were collected and the mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated and incubated for 24h with (or without = control cells) paroxetine and bupropion, in concentrations of 30, 100 and 1000 ng/ml. After the incubation period in both groups, the amount of dead cells was calculated using trypam blue technique. NKA was evaluated using the classic51Cr release assay. CONCLUSIONS: PBMCs dead cells occurred in both groups and in proportion to all pharmacological concentrations. Nevertheless, the NKA was not affected, even with the reduction in the number of effective cells.
Highlights
The relation between depressive episodes and changes in the IS is clear in clinical practice
Regarding the natural killer activity (NKA) comparing all concentration levels of bupropion (i.e., 30 ng; 100 ng; 1000 ng∕ml), to the ANOVA for repeated measures analysis there was no difference in the lytic activity between control lymphocytes and lymphocytes pre-incubated with bupropion (p = 0.260)
These results suggest that the blunted NKA and lymphocyte proliferation seen with Tricyclic antidepressants (TCA) might be related to their action on other receptors such as the histaminergics or cholinergic ones
Summary
The relation between depressive episodes and changes in the IS is clear in clinical practice. A study of the cerebral distribution of serotonin transporters (5HT)[3], found in IS cells, showed high concentration of 5HT in areas of the amygdala, thalamus, hypothalamus, substantia nigra, hippocampus, locus ceruleus and raphei nuclei – structure of serotonergic neurons[4]. It seems that in lymphocytes 5-HT it has immunomodulatory properties[5]. Bupropion is an antidepressant drug with a unique mechanism of action: it has noradrenergic and dopaminergic (NDRI) activity with no clinically significant effects on serotonin reuptake[10]. Except for some controversial discussion about the role of bupropion in the pathogenesis of medical conditions with immunological features (e.g. erythema multiform)[11,12], no investigations have been made to elucidate the immunological effects of bupropion in healthy individuals
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