Background
Adenylyl cyclase (AC) is an enzyme that can regulate the physiologic effects of numerous
drugs and hormones through the production of cyclic adenosine-3′,5′-monophosphate
(cAMP). Some studies suggest that certain measures of AC activity are lower among
depressed subjects. We examined the relationship between various measures of AC activity
and major depression, taking into account potential confounders, such as drug use
and gender.
Methods
We assessed the relationship between platelet levels of AC activity and lifetime diagnosis
of major depression among 1481 participants (226 subjects with a history of major
depression and 1255 control subjects) in an international, cross-sectional study initiated
by the World Health Organization and the International Society on Biomedical Research
on Alcoholism.
Results
After accounting for recent drug use, subjects with a history of major depression
had markedly lower mean levels for all measures of platelet AC activity compared with
control subjects. The adjusted odds ratios for major depression comparing the bottom
to the top quartile of AC activity were 2.69 for basal (95% confidence interval [CI]
1.30–5.56), 3.72 for cesium fluoride-stimulated (95% CI 1.54–8.98), 6.20 for forskolin-stimulated
(95% CI 2.04–18.80), and 2.20 for Gpp(NH)p-stimulated (95% CI 1.03–4.70).
Conclusions
Subjects with major depression have lower platelet AC activity levels, and this relationship
is dramatically attenuated by various types of drug use.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: August 11, 2005
Accepted:
May 27,
2005
Received in revised form:
March 29,
2005
Received:
January 14,
2005
Identification
Copyright
© 2005 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
