# Oxidative alterations in exfoliated oral mucosa cells of patients with major depressive disorder

## TL;DR

This study found increased oxidative stress in oral cells of people with major depressive disorder, suggesting a potential non-invasive biomarker.

## Contribution

The study introduces oral exfoliated cells as a non-invasive biomarker for oxidative stress in major depressive disorder.

## Key findings

- MDD patients had significantly higher ROS levels compared to controls.
- Caspase-3 and -7 activity was elevated in MDD patients.
- Mitochondrial membrane potential was reduced in MDD oral cells.

## Abstract

This study aimed to investigate oxidative stress markers in the oral mucosal cells of individuals diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD).

A case-control design was used, including twenty patients diagnosed with MDD, based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria, and twenty healthy controls. Oral exfoliated cells were collected from all participants. Intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), caspase-3 and -7 activity, and reduced glutathione (GSH) were measured in Arbitrary Fluorescence Units (AFU).

The MDD group demonstrated significantly elevated intracellular ROS levels (p = 0.0012) and caspase-3 and -7 activity (p = 0.0171) in comparison to the control group. Additionally, a decrease in ΔΨm expression was observed in the oral cells of MDD patients (p = 0.0265), whereas GSH expression levels did not differ significantly between the two groups (p = 0.8908).

The findings indicate heightened oxidative stress in the oral exfoliated cells of individuals with MDD. This study supports the potential use of oral cells as a non-invasive biomarker source for assessing oxidative stress in depressive disorders.

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