Psychoimmune Investigation in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Assays of Plasma Transferrin, IL-2 and IL-6 Receptor, and IL-1β and IL-6 Concentrations

This study was carried out to investigate the immune function in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Plasma levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R), sIL-2R, and transferrin receptor (TfR), and baseline plasma cortisol levels were measured in 19 OCD patients and 19 normal controls. No significant differences in any of the above immune variables were found between subjects with OCD and normal controls. There was a significant positive correlation between IL·6 or sIL·6R concentrations and severity of compulsive – but not obsessive – symptoms. In subjects with OCD, there was a significant negative relationship between sIL-2R concentrations and plasma cortisol values. In subjects with OCD and in the study group as a whole, there were significant positive relationships between sIL-2R and TfR concentrations.