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Major Depressive DisorderNCT04159207

A Longitudinal Study of Inflammatory Pathways in Depression

An observational study of Major Depressive Disorder and Suicide, Attempted, run by Van Andel Research Institute at 1 site in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

Suicide accounts for at least 1 million deaths globally each year. This is likely a significant underestimate, because suicide is under-reported in many countries. In the US, over 42,000 people die from suicide annually. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Major Depressive Disorder, Suicide, Attempted
How many people
130 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
1 Oct 2019to 30 Aug 2023
Phase
Observational
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Study population: People who are above age of 18, have a Major Depressive Disorder diagnosis and no ongoing immune disorders.

Who may be able to join

  • Men and women ages 18 years and older will be included in the study.
  • 80 who are diagnosed with MDD by SCID but do not endorse current or past suicidal behaviors.
  • 80 who are diagnosed with MDD by SCID and endorse current suicidal behavior as defined by C-SSRS (preparatory acts, aborted or interrupted attempts, as well as completed attempts).
  • English speaking.
  • Willing and able to take part of the different steps in the study, including follow-up interviews and blood draws.

Who cannot join

  • Vulnerable populations (e.g. incarcerated individuals).
  • Subjects with dementia or otherwise cognitively impaired subjects with difficulty understanding the study procedures.
  • Patients with a primary psychiatric diagnosis other than MDD.
  • Patients with an active somatic disorder primarily involving the immune system (autoimmune diseases such as Crohns disease, multiple sclerosis, or rheumatoid arthritis; or hematological diseases such as lymphoma or leukemia).
  • Patients on chronic and systemic immunomodulatory treatment. Examples are patients with a liver- or kidney transplant or medications used for disorders involving the immune system, as mentioned above. Examples of immunomodulatory treatments are cyclosporin, azathioprine, infliximab, corticosteroid treatment.
  • Patients undergoing active treatment for any form of cancer (chemotherapy or immunomodulatory treatments).

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services

    Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49501

Other trials in United States

About this study

Suicide accounts for at least 1 million deaths globally each year. This is likely a significant underestimate, because suicide is under-reported in many countries. In the US, over 42,000 people die from suicide annually. Despite increased focus on identification and treatment, the rate of suicide has increased steadily over the past 15 years.

Our project aims both to improve our understanding of factors that increase the risk for suicide by comparing blood biomarkers associated with inflammation in patients with depression without suicidal behavior and patients with depression and suicidal behavior. The 160 individuals in this study will be followed with psychiatric assessments and blood samples at repeated time points over one year.

Read the detailed description

Suicide is a leading cause of death in the US, and its rate continues to increase. Most individuals who die by suicide are in contact with health care, but clinical risk assessment is challenging. Inflammatory biomarkers have tentatively been linked to suicide. However, longitudinal studies establishing their accuracy in tracking suicidal behavior and critical symptoms are lacking. This study is a longitudinal study, with 1,280 total assessments planned, measuring suicidal ideation and behavior, associated clinical symptoms and blood biomarkers of inflammation.

Our overriding aim is to identify a set of biomarkers that distinguish patients with suicidal behavior from depressive patients without suicidal behavior. Further, the investigators intend to define biomarkers that are elevated during active suicidal behavior (at- risk periods) within the same patients (longitudinally).

Our working model is that inflammation (via pro-inflammatory cytokines) induces the kynurenine pathway, leading to an increased production of neurotoxic kynurenine metabolites (i.e., the NMDA-receptor agonist quinolinic acid, or others), which trigger suicidal behavior. The Investigators predict that immunomodulatory cells and molecules, including cytokines and kynurenine metabolites in plasma, may constitute biomarkers of suicidal behavior. The Investigators also predict that elevated inflammatory markers in suicidal individuals will be associated with epigenetic changes, regulating the expression of kynurenine enzymes in blood cells.

Aims:

  1. Establish biomarkers that indicate risk for active suicidal behavior;
  2. Determine epigenetic markers in the blood of patients with suicidal behavior.

In Aim 1, the investigators will enroll patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and active suicidal behavior (planning or attempts), and MDD patients without current or past suicidal behavior. Each subject will be assessed at eight time-points over one year. The Investigators will measure interleukins and acute phase reactants as well as tryptophan, serotonin and metabolites of the kynurenine pathway in peripheral blood.

For aim 2, the investigators will perform whole-genome methylation analysis using Illumina EPIC arrays, followed by gene pathway analyses, in blood of the enrolled patients.

Our project will aid the implementation of biomarkers in clinical care for patients with suicide risk, in order to enable intensified intervention during critical time-points. The biological insight obtained here can guide therapeutic development specifically targeting suicidality, with the ultimate goal of reducing suicide numbers.

Keywords
Depression, Suicide, Inflammation, Kynurenine, Cytokine
Medical subject headings
Depressive Disorder, Major, Suicide, Attempted, Depression, Suicide, Inflammation

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

Study groups in NCT04159207
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
A Longitudinal Study of Inflammatory Pathways in DepressionWe target to recruit 80 patients with Major Depression Disorder diagnosis and 80 patients with Major Depression Disorder with suicidal behavior.

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Suicidal behavior of participants

    The presence of suicidal behavior over one year will be classified as yes/no as the primary outcome measure. The Identification of participants with suicidal behavior at each study time point will be achieved by assessment using the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) regarding attempt, interrupted or aborted attempt, or preparatory acts over the past 7 days.

    Measured: One year.

  2. Establish metabolic biomarkers that indicate risk for suicidal behavior

    Evaluate if metabolic biomarkers are predictive of suicidal behavior (planning, attempting) among patients with depression. Metabolites will be measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography, ultra-high performace liquid-chromatography and gas-chromatography mass-spectrometry). The main metabolite biomarker outcomes are quinolinic, kynurenic and picolinic acids as well as 3-HK and kynurenine (nM).

    Measured: One year.

  3. Establish inflammatory biomarkers that indicate risk for suicidal behavior

    Evaluate if inflammatory biomarkers are predictive of suicidal behavior (planning, attempting) among patients with depression. Inflammatory markers will be measured using high-sensitivity ELISAs, Mesoscale platform or Luminex platforms. The main cytokine outcomes are TNF-alpha and IL-6 (pg/ml).

    Measured: One year.

  4. Determine epigenetic marks in blood cells from patients with suicidal behavior

    DNA methylation will be measured by Illumina Infinum methylationEPIC BeadChip microarrays, and compacted between patients with suicidal behavior and patients without suicidal behavior.

    Measured: One year.

  5. Functional validation of the significant methylation changes

    mRNA will be quantified by qPCR in the same peripheral blood samples as used for the EPIC array for functional validation of the significant methylation changes.

    Measured: One year.

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted12 Nov 2019
  2. Study start1 Oct 2019
  3. Primary completion30 Aug 2023
  4. Study completion30 Aug 2023

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Observational
Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrolment
130 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04159207
Sponsor's protocol ID
19010
Other IDs
1R01MH118211-01A1
Status last verified
Apr 2023
First submitted
30 Sep 2019
Last updated
6 Apr 2025
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Preventing Suicide. 2018.

  • Shepard DS, Gurewich D, Lwin AK, Reed GA Jr, Silverman MM. Suicide and Suicidal Attempts in the United States: Costs and Policy Implications. Suicide Life Threat Behav. 2016 Jun;46(3):352-62. doi: 10.1111/sltb.12225. Epub 2015 Oct 29.

    PubMed 26511788
  • Curtin SC, Warner M, Hedegaard H. Increase in Suicide in the United States, 1999-2014. NCHS Data Brief. 2016 Apr;(241):1-8.

    PubMed 27111185
  • Lutz PE, Mechawar N, Turecki G. Neuropathology of suicide: recent findings and future directions. Mol Psychiatry. 2017 Oct;22(10):1395-1412. doi: 10.1038/mp.2017.141. Epub 2017 Jul 11.

    PubMed 28696430
  • Roy B, Dwivedi Y. Understanding epigenetic architecture of suicide neurobiology: A critical perspective. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2017 Jan;72:10-27. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.10.031. Epub 2016 Nov 9.

    PubMed 27836463
  • Black C, Miller BJ. Meta-Analysis of Cytokines and Chemokines in Suicidality: Distinguishing Suicidal Versus Nonsuicidal Patients. Biol Psychiatry. 2015 Jul 1;78(1):28-37. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2014.10.014. Epub 2014 Oct 30.

    PubMed 25541493
  • Bryleva EY, Brundin L. Suicidality and Activation of the Kynurenine Pathway of Tryptophan Metabolism. Curr Top Behav Neurosci. 2017;31:269-284. doi: 10.1007/7854_2016_5.

    PubMed 27221623
  • Gananca L, Oquendo MA, Tyrka AR, Cisneros-Trujillo S, Mann JJ, Sublette ME. The role of cytokines in the pathophysiology of suicidal behavior. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2016 Jan;63:296-310. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2015.10.008. Epub 2015 Oct 19.

    PubMed 26546783
  • Miyaoka H, Otsubo T, Kamijima K, Ishii M, Onuki M, Mitamura K. Depression from interferon therapy in patients with hepatitis C. Am J Psychiatry. 1999 Jul;156(7):1120. doi: 10.1176/ajp.156.7.1120. No abstract available.

    PubMed 10401474
  • Lucaciu LA, Dumitrascu DL. Depression and suicide ideation in chronic hepatitis C patients untreated and treated with interferon: prevalence, prevention, and treatment. Ann Gastroenterol. 2015 Oct-Dec;28(4):440-7.

    PubMed 26424594
  • Yirmiya R, Pollak Y, Morag M, Reichenberg A, Barak O, Avitsur R, Shavit Y, Ovadia H, Weidenfeld J, Morag A, Newman ME, Pollmacher T. Illness, cytokines, and depression. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2000;917:478-87. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2000.tb05412.x.

    PubMed 11268375
  • Yirmiya R. Endotoxin produces a depressive-like episode in rats. Brain Res. 1996 Mar 4;711(1-2):163-74. doi: 10.1016/0006-8993(95)01415-2.

    PubMed 8680860
  • O'Connor JC, Lawson MA, Andre C, Moreau M, Lestage J, Castanon N, Kelley KW, Dantzer R. Lipopolysaccharide-induced depressive-like behavior is mediated by indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase activation in mice. Mol Psychiatry. 2009 May;14(5):511-22. doi: 10.1038/sj.mp.4002148. Epub 2008 Jan 15.

    PubMed 18195714
  • Dowlati Y, Herrmann N, Swardfager W, Liu H, Sham L, Reim EK, Lanctot KL. A meta-analysis of cytokines in major depression. Biol Psychiatry. 2010 Mar 1;67(5):446-57. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2009.09.033. Epub 2009 Dec 16.

    PubMed 20015486
  • Dahl J, Ormstad H, Aass HC, Malt UF, Bendz LT, Sandvik L, Brundin L, Andreassen OA. The plasma levels of various cytokines are increased during ongoing depression and are reduced to normal levels after recovery. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2014 Jul;45:77-86. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2014.03.019. Epub 2014 Apr 6.

    PubMed 24845179

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

An observational study of Major Depressive Disorder and Suicide, Attempted, run by Van Andel Research Institute at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 6 Apr 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Suicidal behavior of participants (time frame: One year.). The study lists 5 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT04159207, which also lists 36 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 6 Apr 2025.

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