Angiogenic factors in patients with current major depressive disorder comorbid with borderline personality disorder

Kahl, Kai G.; Bens, Susanne; Ziegler, Kristin; Rudolf, Sebastian; Kordon, Andreas; Dibbelt, Leif; Schweiger, Ulrich

doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2008.09.016

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Volume 34, Issue 3 , Pages 353-357, April 2009

Angiogenic factors in patients with current major depressive disorder comorbid with borderline personality disorder

Kai G. Kahl
- Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Luebeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Luebeck, Germany
- Corresponding author at: Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany. Tel.: +49 511 532 2495; fax: +49 511 532 2415.
Susanne Bens
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Luebeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Luebeck, Germany
Kristin Ziegler
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Luebeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Luebeck, Germany
Sebastian Rudolf
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Luebeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Luebeck, Germany
Andreas Kordon
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Luebeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Luebeck, Germany
Leif Dibbelt
- Institute for Clinical Chemistry, University of Luebeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Luebeck, Germany
Ulrich Schweiger
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Luebeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Luebeck, Germany

Received 3 October 2007; received in revised form 23 September 2008; accepted 24 September 2008.

Summary

Background

Major depression has been associated with endocrine and immune alterations, in particular a dysregulation of the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal system with subsequent hypercortisolism and an imbalance of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Recent studies suggest that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a cytokine involved in angiogenesis and neurogenesis, may also be dysregulated during stress and depression. These observations prompted us to examine VEGF and other angiogenic factors in patients with major depressive disorder.

Methods

Twelve medication-free female patients with a major depressive episode in the context of borderline personality disorder (MDD/BPD) and twelve healthy women were included. Concentrations of VEGF, VEGF receptors 1 and 2, basic fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), angiopoetin-2, interleukin-8 (IL-8) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) were determined from serum profiles.

Results

Increased concentrations of VEGF and FGF-2 were found in MDD/BPD patients compared to the healthy comparator group. No group differences were found concerning the other angiogenic factors examined.

Conclusion

Depressive episodes in the context of borderline personality disorder may be accompanied by increased serum concentrations of VEGF and FGF-2. Similar findings have been observed in patients with major depression without a borderline personality disorder. A dysregulation of angiogenic factors may be another facet of the endocrine and immunologic disturbances frequently seen in patients with depressive episodes.

Keywords: Major depressive disorder, Borderline personality disorder, VEGF, FGF-2, Angiogenesis, Comorbidity