Immune parameters are frequently associated with mood disorders and affective temperaments. In our study, we investigate the role of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) in affective temperaments and mood symptoms in healthy adults.

Healthy adults were screened for psychiatric disorders using the non-patient version of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-I and II. Affective temperaments were evaluated with Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego-Autoquestionnaire (TEMPS-A). State mood symptoms were assessed using the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) and Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). Serum sICAM-1 levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

We identified no association between sICAM-1 levels and affective temperament scores. We identified correlation between sICAM-1 levels and manic symptoms measured by YMRS. Furthermore, sICAM-1 was a significant predictor of manic symptoms in a linear regression model with age, gender, BMI and smoking habits as confounding variables.

Our findings suggest that sICAM-1 could be a relevant immune factor for severity of state affective symptoms and could contribute to better understanding of complexity of affective disorders.