. 2023 Jun 1;13:185. doi: 10.1038/s41398-023-02438-x

Table 3.

Comparison of plasma protein levels across subgroups.

	MDD serum hsCRP <1 mg/L n = 59	MDD serum hsCRP 1–3 mg/L n = 33	MDD serum hsCRP >3 mg/L n = 36	Controls n = 40	Group tests (Statistics and p values) and post hoc analyses
Plasma IL-6 (pg/mL) mean ± SD (IQR)	n = 59 0.48 ± 0.29 (0.41)	n = 32 0.94 ± 0.76 (0.69)	n = 36 1.72 ± 1.63 (1.27)	n = 40 0.56 ± 0.40 (0.31)	Wald chi-square = 78.86, p < 0.001 MDD CRP >3 vs. others; MDD CRP 1–3 vs. MDD CRP <1
Plasma IL-7 (pg/mL) mean ± SD (IQR)	n = 59 2.60 ± 1.48 (1.55)	n = 33 3.96 ± 3.78 (3.58)	n = 36 4.44 ± 3.28 (3.35)	n = 39 3.66 ± 2.96 (1.53)	Wald chi-square = 17.71, p < 0.001 MDD CRP >3 vs. MDD CRP <1; MDD CRP 1–3 vs. MDD CRP <1
Plasma IL-8 (pg/mL) mean ± SD (IQR)	n = 59 2.92 ± 1.38 (1.75)	n = 33 3.14 ± 2.10 (1.41)	n = 36 4.01 ± 1.95 (2.77)	n = 40 4.01 ± 3.02 (2.33)	Wald chi-square = 13.83, p = 0.003 MDD CRP >3 vs. MDD CRP <1; controls vs. MDD CRP <1
Plasma IL-10 (pg/mL) mean ± SD (IQR)	n = 59 0.24 ± 0.12 (0.13)	n = 30 0.28 ± 0.21 (0.27)	n = 36 0.39 ± 0.50 (0.25)	n = 39 0.27 ± 0.14 (0.18)	Wald chi-square = 17.02, p < 0.001 MDD CRP >3 vs. controls; MDD CRP >3 vs. MDD CRP <1
Plasma IL-12/IL-23p40 (pg/mL) mean ± SD (IQR)	n = 59 152.0 ± 109.9 (88.04)	n = 33 143.8 ± 66.48 (82.26)	n = 36 175.6 ± 91.62 (119.7)	n = 40 128.4 ± 58.46 (88.85)	Wald chi-square = 8.00, p = 0.046 MDD CRP >3 vs. controls
Plasma IL-15 (pg/mL) mean ± SD	n = 59 2.86 ± 0.63	n = 33 2.83 ± 0.59	n = 36 3.0 ± 0.79	n = 40 2.88 ± 0.63	F = 0.46, p = 0.711
Plasma IL-16 (pg/mL) mean ± SD (IQR)	n = 59 154.6 ± 47.19 (60.72)	n = 33 153.0 ± 54.38 (79.71)	n = 36 195.1 ± 85.28 (77.86)	n = 39 153.5 ± 55.28 (78.35)	Wald chi-square = 14.76, p = 0.002 MDD CRP >3 vs. others
Plasma IL-17A (pg/mL) mean ± SD (IQR)	n = 56 3.26 ± 3.68 (1.85)	n = 32 2.18 ± 1.53 (1.33)	n = 35 3.77 ± 4.25 (2.81)	n = 39 2.36 ± 1.36 (1.34)	Wald chi-square = 14.69, p = 0.002 MDD CRP >3 vs. controls; MDD CRP >3 vs. MDD CRP 1–3 Trend: MDD CRP 1–3 vs. MDD CRP <1
Plasma IFN-gamma (pg/mL) mean ± SD (IQR)	n = 59 4.70 ± 5.41 (2.76)	n = 32 4.83 ± 6.28 (2.83)	n = 34 9.64 ± 16.82 (3.29)	n = 40 3.43 ± 2.24 (1.71)	Wald chi-square = 33.60, p < 0.001 MDD CRP >3 vs. others
Plasma TNF-alpha (pg/mL) mean ± SD (IQR)	n = 59 2.14 ± 0.66 (0.68)	n = 33 2.30 ± 0.80 (0.92)	n = 36 2.66 ± 0.62 (0.89)	n = 40 2.27 ± 0.63 (2.39)	Wald chi-square = 14.44, p = 0.002 MDD CRP >3 vs. MDD CRP <1 Trend: MDD CRP >3 vs. controls
Plasma VEGF-A (pg/mL) mean ± SD (IQR)	n = 59 69.42 ± 58.41 (36.73)	n = 33 77.23 ± 56.59 (37.33)	n = 36 80.28 ± 38.82 (67.22)	n = 40 86.74 ± 79.11 (60.78)	Wald chi-square = 3.50, p = 0.321
White cell count (x10⁹/L) mean ± SD (IQR)	n = 59 6.24 ± 1.53 (2.0)	n = 33 6.62 ± 1.50 (2.5)	n = 34 7.79 ± 2.49 (3.0)	n = 40 5.94 ± 1.38 (2.2)	Wald chi-square = 0.44, p = 0.803
Lymphocytes absolute (x10³/µL) mean ± SD (IQR)	n = 59 1.93 ± 0.53 (0.81)	n = 33 1.99 ± 0.51 (1.57)	n = 34 2.22 ± 0.73 (0.89)	n = 40 1.85 ± 0.42 (0.57)	H = 6.74, p = .081 Trend: MDD CRP >3 vs. controls
Neutrophils absolute (x10³/µL) mean ± SD (IQR)	n = 59 3.67 ± 1.21 (1.73)	n = 33 4.03 ± 1.34 (2.14)	n = 34 4.87 ± 1.88 (1.75)	n = 40 3.51 ± 1.17 (1.36)	H = 16.54, p < 0.001 MDD CRP >3 vs. controls; MDD CRP >3 vs. MDD CRP <1
Basophils absolute (x10³/µL) mean ± SD (IQR)	n = 59 0.03 ± 0.02 (0.01)	n = 33 0.03 ± 0.02 (0.02)	n = 34 0.03 ± 0.02 (0.03)	n = 40 0.02 ± 0.01 (0.02)	Wald chi-square = 3.74, p = 0.291
Eosinophils absolute (x10³/µL) mean ± SD (IQR)	n = 59 0.20 ± 0.26 (0.16)	n = 33 0.17 ± 0.11 (0.20)	n = 34 0.23 ± 0.21 (0.19)	n = 40 0.15 ± 0.09 (0.12)	Wald chi-square = 5.92, p = 0.115
Monocytes absolute (x10³/µL) mean (± SD)	n = 59 0.42 (±0.15)	n = 33 0.40 (±0.14)	n = 34 0.45 (±0.13)	n = 40 0.40 (±0.14)	F = 0.81, p = 0.438

MDD serum hsCRP <1 mg/L n = 59

MDD serum hsCRP 1–3 mg/L n = 33

MDD serum hsCRP >3 mg/L n = 36

Controls n = 40

Group tests (Statistics and p values) and post hoc analyses

Plasma IL-6 (pg/mL)

mean ± SD (IQR)

n = 59

0.48 ± 0.29 (0.41)

n = 32

0.94 ± 0.76 (0.69)

n = 36

1.72 ± 1.63 (1.27)

n = 40

0.56 ± 0.40 (0.31)

Wald chi-square = 78.86, p < 0.001

MDD CRP >3 vs. others;

MDD CRP 1–3 vs. MDD CRP <1

Plasma IL-7 (pg/mL)

mean ± SD (IQR)

n = 59

2.60 ± 1.48 (1.55)

n = 33

3.96 ± 3.78 (3.58)

n = 36

4.44 ± 3.28 (3.35)

n = 39

3.66 ± 2.96 (1.53)

Wald chi-square = 17.71, p < 0.001

MDD CRP >3 vs. MDD CRP <1; MDD CRP 1–3 vs. MDD CRP <1

Plasma IL-8 (pg/mL)

mean ± SD (IQR)

n = 59

2.92 ± 1.38 (1.75)

n = 33

3.14 ± 2.10 (1.41)

n = 36

4.01 ± 1.95 (2.77)

n = 40

4.01 ± 3.02 (2.33)

Wald chi-square = 13.83, p = 0.003

MDD CRP >3 vs. MDD CRP <1; controls vs. MDD CRP <1

Plasma IL-10 (pg/mL)

mean ± SD (IQR)

n = 59

0.24 ± 0.12 (0.13)

n = 30

0.28 ± 0.21 (0.27)

n = 36

0.39 ± 0.50 (0.25)

n = 39

0.27 ± 0.14 (0.18)

Wald chi-square = 17.02, p < 0.001

MDD CRP >3 vs. controls; MDD CRP >3 vs. MDD CRP <1

Plasma IL-12/IL-23p40 (pg/mL)

mean ± SD (IQR)

n = 59

152.0 ± 109.9 (88.04)

n = 33

143.8 ± 66.48 (82.26)

n = 36

175.6 ± 91.62 (119.7)

n = 40

128.4 ± 58.46 (88.85)

Wald chi-square = 8.00, p = 0.046

MDD CRP >3 vs. controls

Plasma IL-15 (pg/mL)

mean ± SD

n = 59

2.86 ± 0.63

n = 33

2.83 ± 0.59

n = 36

3.0 ± 0.79

n = 40

2.88 ± 0.63

F = 0.46, p = 0.711

Plasma IL-16 (pg/mL)

mean ± SD (IQR)

n = 59

154.6 ± 47.19 (60.72)

n = 33

153.0 ± 54.38 (79.71)

n = 36

195.1 ± 85.28 (77.86)

n = 39

153.5 ± 55.28 (78.35)

Wald chi-square = 14.76, p = 0.002

MDD CRP >3 vs. others

Plasma IL-17A (pg/mL)

mean ± SD (IQR)

n = 56

3.26 ± 3.68 (1.85)

n = 32

2.18 ± 1.53 (1.33)

n = 35

3.77 ± 4.25 (2.81)

n = 39

2.36 ± 1.36 (1.34)

Wald chi-square = 14.69, p = 0.002

MDD CRP >3 vs. controls; MDD CRP >3 vs. MDD CRP 1–3

Trend: MDD CRP 1–3 vs. MDD CRP <1

Plasma IFN-gamma (pg/mL)

mean ± SD (IQR)

n = 59

4.70 ± 5.41 (2.76)

n = 32

4.83 ± 6.28 (2.83)

n = 34

9.64 ± 16.82 (3.29)

n = 40

3.43 ± 2.24 (1.71)

Wald chi-square = 33.60, p < 0.001

MDD CRP >3 vs. others

Plasma TNF-alpha (pg/mL)

mean ± SD (IQR)

n = 59

2.14 ± 0.66 (0.68)

n = 33

2.30 ± 0.80 (0.92)

n = 36

2.66 ± 0.62 (0.89)

n = 40

2.27 ± 0.63 (2.39)

Wald chi-square = 14.44, p = 0.002

MDD CRP >3 vs. MDD CRP <1

Trend: MDD CRP >3 vs. controls

Plasma VEGF-A (pg/mL)

mean ± SD (IQR)

n = 59

69.42 ± 58.41 (36.73)

n = 33

77.23 ± 56.59 (37.33)

n = 36

80.28 ± 38.82 (67.22)

n = 40

86.74 ± 79.11 (60.78)

Wald chi-square = 3.50, p = 0.321

White cell count (x10⁹/L)

mean ± SD (IQR)

n = 59

6.24 ± 1.53 (2.0)

n = 33

6.62 ± 1.50 (2.5)

n = 34

7.79 ± 2.49 (3.0)

n = 40

5.94 ± 1.38 (2.2)

Wald chi-square = 0.44, p = 0.803

Lymphocytes absolute (x10³/µL)

mean ± SD (IQR)

n = 59

1.93 ± 0.53 (0.81)

n = 33

1.99 ± 0.51 (1.57)

n = 34

2.22 ± 0.73 (0.89)

n = 40

1.85 ± 0.42 (0.57)

H = 6.74, p = .081

Trend: MDD CRP >3 vs. controls

Neutrophils absolute (x10³/µL)

mean ± SD (IQR)

n = 59

3.67 ± 1.21 (1.73)

n = 33

4.03 ± 1.34 (2.14)

n = 34

4.87 ± 1.88 (1.75)

n = 40

3.51 ± 1.17 (1.36)

H = 16.54, p < 0.001

MDD CRP >3 vs. controls; MDD CRP >3 vs. MDD CRP <1

Basophils absolute (x10³/µL)

mean ± SD (IQR)

n = 59

0.03 ± 0.02 (0.01)

n = 33

0.03 ± 0.02 (0.02)

n = 34

0.03 ± 0.02 (0.03)

n = 40

0.02 ± 0.01 (0.02)

Wald chi-square = 3.74, p = 0.291

Eosinophils absolute (x10³/µL)

mean ± SD (IQR)

n = 59

0.20 ± 0.26 (0.16)

n = 33

0.17 ± 0.11 (0.20)

n = 34

0.23 ± 0.21 (0.19)

n = 40

0.15 ± 0.09 (0.12)

Wald chi-square = 5.92, p = 0.115

Monocytes absolute (x10³/µL)

mean (± SD)

n = 59

0.42 (±0.15)

n = 33

0.40 (±0.14)

n = 34

0.45 (±0.13)

n = 40

0.40 (±0.14)

F = 0.81, p = 0.438

Post hoc analyses use Bonferroni correction (specific groups reported have statistically different mean scores (larger or smaller) compared with others). Significant tests (p < 0.05) are in bold; trends (0.05 < p < 0.09) in italics.

IFN interferon, IL interleukin, TNF tumour necrosis factor, VEGF vascular endothelial growth factor, IQR interquartile range, SD standard deviation, F ANOVA F value, H Kruskal–Wallis H value.