Depression may spur clogging of arteries

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- Chronic depression may play a key role in starting the cascade that can lead to the buildup of plaques clogging coronary arteries, a U.S. study found.

Ronald Glaser of Ohio State University and colleagues found two essential proteins – interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha -- are linked to producing inflammation, a major part of the body's immune response.

As the immune system ages, the levels of interleukin-6 in the body increase in the blood. Psychological stress and depression can also substantially raise the levels of both proteins.

"People need to remember how important depression is and, that when they're depressed, it can reactivate these viruses, starting the cascade that leads to inflammation, perhaps increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease -- treating depression is very important," Glaser said in a statement. "The more interleukin-6 levels rise in the body, the greater a person's risk is for disease."

Interleukin-6 increases, as well as depression, have been associated with cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis and type-2 diabetes, Glaser said. .

The findings suggest a new way of thinking about how these diseases develop, reported the study published in the journal Brain, Behavior and Immunity.

"We carry around these latent herpes viruses in our bodies virtually all our lives and periodically they can hurt us, inducing biological events that could lead to an increased risk of atherosclerosis," Glaser said.