Exploring the prospective association of serum interleukin-1β and brain-derived neurotrophic factor with antidepressant treatment response

This study investigated the prospective association of serum interleukin-1 beta (sIL-1β) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (sBDNF) with 12-week antidepressant treatment outcomes in patients with depressive disorders. We analyzed baseline levels of sIL-1β and sBDNF in 1,086 patients participating in a naturalistic, stepwise antidepressant treatment study. Remission was defined by a Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score of ≤7 at 12 weeks. Logistic regression, adjusted for sociodemographic and clinical covariates, was used to assess the relationships between biomarker levels and treatment outcomes. Higher sIL-1β levels were significantly associated with non-remission at 12 weeks in patients with lower sBDNF levels, while in patients with higher sBDNF levels, sIL-1β did not significantly impact remission outcomes. The interaction between sIL-1β and sBDNF significantly associated with remission status, even after adjusting for confounders. The study suggests the significant role of the interplay between inflammatory and neuroplastic systems in influencing antidepressant treatment outcomes. These findings underscore the potential of integrating biomarker profiles to enhance personalized antidepressant strategies, advancing treatment precision in depressive disorders. Future research should focus on elucidating the dynamic mechanisms behind these biomarker interactions to further refine models that assess treatment responsiveness and develop targeted therapeutic interventions.