Feasibility of Utilizing Transforming Growth Factor Beta as a Biomarker of Depression in Hospitalized Patients

Several mental conditions and depression, have been linked to immune response disorganization. However, it is unclear if particular immune mediators play a part in the etiopathogenesis of depression. Although there are no definite biomarkers to diagnose depression, the current study sought to logically evaluate the possibility and feasibility of checking a biomarker for depression to be utilized for hospitalized patients suspected of depression. In this narrative review, related articles were gathered through a search of PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect databases as well as a manual search of full-text paper references. The reviewed studies demonstrated the potential role of the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) in depressive disorders. Previous studies represented a negative role for TGF-β in depression pathophysiology and an increase in TGF-β after depression treatment. Elevated plasma TGF-alpha acted controversial to TGF-β. The level of TGF-β in maternal plasma increased getting close to delivery, and researchers found that it might be associated with postpartum depression. In addition, researchers reported extreme elevations in TGF-β levels in the brain cells of subjects who died by suicide. Although the results of this study revealed a plausible link between TGF-β and depression based on the literature, sensitivity and specificity studies needed before TGF-β as a biomarker may be extensively employed in clinical practice. Depression appears to be down-regulating TGF-β and its signaling or the underlying mechanisms of the pathogenesis of consequent neurological disorders, while further studies are required for the application of the TGF-β assessment in clinical practice.