Table 2 Immune cell subset composition, telomere length in immune cell subsets and immune cell mitochondrial activity of depressed patients and non-depressed control subjects.

From: Targeting the association between telomere length and immuno-cellular bioenergetics in female patients with Major Depressive Disorder

 

Controls

MDD

t/W/χ 2a

df

p

(N = 21)

(N = 18)

Immune cell subset composition (%)b

  T cells (CD3+)

46.8 ± 13.1

48.8 ± 10.3

−0.52

37

0.61

    T helper cells (CD3+CD4+)

25.4 ± 26.1

26.3 ± 9.1

−0.30

37

0.77

      Naïve T helper cells (CD3+CD4+CD45RA+)

14.3 ± 7.2

12.4 ± 7.7

233.0

 

0.22

      Memory T helper cells (CD3+CD4+CD45RA−)

8.8 ± 3.3

10.9 ± 4.8

−1.64

37

0.11

    Cytotoxic T cells (CD3+CD8+)

9.2 ± 3.2

12.2 ± 6.6

140.0

 

0.17

      Naïve cytotoxic T cells (CD3+CD8+CD45RA+)

5.9 ± 2.7

7.9 ± 4.4

−1.77

37

0.09

      Memory cytotoxic T cells (CD3+CD8+CD45RA−)

2.2 ± 1.5

3.0 ± 2.5

170.5

 

0.18

Telomere length (kb)

    PBMC

7.6 ± 1.1

8.9 ± 1.7

100

 

0.01

    Naïve T helper cells

7.5 ± 1.4

7.5 ± 1.2

0.04

37

0.97

    Memory T helper cells

6.5 ± 1.0

6.0 ± 1.0

1.41

37

0.17

    Naïve cytotoxic T cells

7.8 ± 1.6

6.7 ± 1.3

2.34

37

0.03

    Memory cytotoxic T cellsc

7.1 ± 1.5

5.7 ± 1.1

271

 

0.008

Mitochondrial activity d

    Routine respiration

4.0 ± 1.1

3.1 ± 1.2

2.48

37

0.02

    Leak respiratione

1.4 ± 0.8

1.6 ± 0.6

105.5

 

0.19

    ATP-turnover-related respiratione

2.5 ± 0.8

1.3 ± 0.8

4.70

32

<0.0001

    Maximal ETS capacitye

8.2 ± 2.6

5.3 ± 1.7

254

 

<0.0001

    Spare respiratory capacitye

4.2 ± 2.2

2.4 ± 1.4

2.90

32

0.007

    ROXe

0.5 ± 0.4

0.4 ± 0.3

173.5

 

0.32

    Coupling efficiency (%)e

64.5 ± 13.9

41.5 ± 16.1

4.46

32

<0.0001

    Citrate synthase activityf (nmol/min per Mio cells)

0.003 ± 0.002

0.004 ± 0.001

−2.86

35

0.007

  1. Values are given as mean ± standard deviation.
  2. Abbreviations: MDD, Major Depressive Disorder; CD, Cluster of differentiation; kb, kilobases; ETS, electron transfer system; ATP, adenosine triphosphate; ROX, residual oxygen consumption.
  3. aTwo-tailed Student’s t-tests or Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney tests. Significant p-values are given in bold. 
  4. bPercentage of living cells as determined by flow cytometry.
  5. cN (Controls) = 20 due to insufficient amount of cells.
  6. dGiven in pmol O2/sec per Mio cells if not stated otherwise.
  7. eN (Controls) = 18 and N (MDD patients) = 16 due to technical problems.
  8. fData of two MDD patients missing due to technical problems; N (MDD patients) = 16.
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