Do Progestin-Only Contraceptives Contribute to the Risk of Developing Depression as Implied by Beta-Arrestin 1 Levels in Leukocytes? A Pilot Study

Keisha Smith, Sanket Nayyar, Tanu Rana, Anthony E. Archibong, Kimberly R. Looney and Tultul Nayyar
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Keisha Smith: Department of Neuroscience & Pharmacology, Meharry Medical College, 1005 Dr. D. B. Todd Jr. Blvd, Nashville, TN 37208, USA
Sanket Nayyar: Department of Neuroscience & Pharmacology, Meharry Medical College, 1005 Dr. D. B. Todd Jr. Blvd, Nashville, TN 37208, USA
Tanu Rana: Department of Neuroscience & Pharmacology, Meharry Medical College, 1005 Dr. D. B. Todd Jr. Blvd, Nashville, TN 37208, USA
Anthony E. Archibong: Department of Neuroscience & Pharmacology, Meharry Medical College, 1005 Dr. D. B. Todd Jr. Blvd, Nashville, TN 37208, USA
Kimberly R. Looney: Department of Neuroscience & Pharmacology, Meharry Medical College, 1005 Dr. D. B. Todd Jr. Blvd, Nashville, TN 37208, USA
Tultul Nayyar: Department of Neuroscience & Pharmacology, Meharry Medical College, 1005 Dr. D. B. Todd Jr. Blvd, Nashville, TN 37208, USA

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 9, 1-11

Abstract: We reported previously that reduction in beta-arrestin 1 (β-AR 1) protein levels in peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes (PBMC) significantly correlated with the severity of depressive symptoms in reproductive women. In this pilot study, we used β-AR 1 protein levels in PBMC as a marker for developing depressive symptoms and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) scores to assess potential mood-related side effects of oral contraceptive use for routine birth control among women. We evaluated 29 women in this study. We enrolled the participants in three groups: Estrogen-progestin combination-oral contraceptives (COC, n = 10), progestin-only contraceptives (POC, n = 12), and non-hormonal or no contraceptives (NC, n = 7). We determined the β-AR 1 protein levels in PBMCs by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We found that women in the POC group had significantly higher HAM-D scores compared to those in the COC ( p < 0.0004) and NC ( p < 0.004). The levels of β-AR 1 protein were significantly attenuated in women in the POC group compared to women in the NC group ( p = 0.03). Our findings suggest that the use of POC is a potential risk factor for developing depressive symptoms.

Keywords: beta-arrestin 1; depression; combination-oral contraceptives; progestin-only contraceptives; mononuclear leukocytes; women (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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