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Zhu X, Zhu Y, Huang J, Zhou Y, Tong J, Zhang P, Luo X, Chen S, Tian B, Tan S, Wang Z, Han X, Tian L, Li CSR, Hong LE, Tan Y. Abnormal cortisol profile during psychosocial stress among patients with schizophrenia in a Chinese population. Sci Rep 2022; 12:18591. [PMID: 36329219 PMCID: PMC9633605 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-20808-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence suggests that hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysfunction might play an important role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to explore the cortisol response to psychological stress in patients with schizophrenia. In this study, patients with schizophrenia (n = 104) and healthy volunteers (n = 59) were asked to complete psychological stress challenge tasks, which included the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task and Mirror-Tracing Persistence Task, and pre- and post-task saliva samples were collected to measure cortisol levels. Emotions and psychopathology were assessed by the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. The results showed (1) that the cortisol response and negative emotions in patients with schizophrenia differed significantly from those in healthy volunteers, (2) there were significant interactions between the sampling time and diagnosis for saliva cortisol levels, (3) there were significant interactions between the scoring time and diagnosis for the negative affect score of the PANAS, and (4) the changes in salivary cortisol levels and negative affect scores before and after the psychological stress challenge tasks were not correlated with clinical symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. These findings indicated an abnormal cortisol profile in patients with schizophrenia, which might be a biological characteristic of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Zhu
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu Zhu
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Junchao Huang
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanfang Zhou
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinghui Tong
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Ping Zhang
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Xingguang Luo
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Song Chen
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Baopeng Tian
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuping Tan
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhiren Wang
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaole Han
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Li Tian
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Chiang-Shan R Li
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - L Elliot Hong
- Department of Psychiatry, Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| | - Yunlong Tan
- Peking University HuiLongGuan Clinical Medical School, Beijing HuiLongGuan Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
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Fornaro M, Carvalho AF, De Prisco M, Mondin AM, Billeci M, Selby P, Iasevoli F, Berk M, Castle DJ, de Bartolomeis A. The prevalence, odds, predictors, and management of tobacco use disorder or nicotine dependence among people with severe mental illness: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 132:289-303. [PMID: 34838527 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.11.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Revised: 11/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The prevalence, correlates, and management of tobacco use disorder (TUD) or nicotine dependence (ND) among people with severe mental illness (SMI), namely schizophrenia, bipolar disorder (BD), and major depressive disorder (MDD), remain unclear. Therefore, a systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted. Electronic databases were systematically searched from inception to July 12, 2020, for observational studies documenting the prevalence, odds, and correlates of TUD/ND among people with SMI; randomized controlled trials (RCTs) informing the management of TUD/ND in people with SMI were also included. Random-effects meta-analyses were conducted. Sources of heterogeneity were explored. Nineteen observational studies, including 7527 participants with SMI met inclusion criteria. TUD/ND co-occurred in 33.4-65% of people with SMI. Rates were higher among males. While bupropion and varenicline represent promising treatment opportunities for schizophrenia with TUD/ND, non-pharmacological interventions require further research, mainly for people with primary mood disorders. TUD/ND represent prevalent co-occurring conditions among people with SMI. Further well-designed RCTs are warranted to inform their management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Fornaro
- Section of Psychiatry - Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences, and Dentistry, University School of Medicine Federico II, Naples, Italy.
| | - Andre F Carvalho
- Deakin University, IMPACT - the Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, School of Medicine, Geelong, Vic., Australia.
| | - Michele De Prisco
- Section of Psychiatry - Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences, and Dentistry, University School of Medicine Federico II, Naples, Italy.
| | - Anna Maria Mondin
- Section of Psychiatry - Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences, and Dentistry, University School of Medicine Federico II, Naples, Italy.
| | - Martina Billeci
- Section of Psychiatry - Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences, and Dentistry, University School of Medicine Federico II, Naples, Italy.
| | - Peter Selby
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Centre for Addiction & Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, ON, Canada; Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Felice Iasevoli
- Section of Psychiatry - Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences, and Dentistry, University School of Medicine Federico II, Naples, Italy.
| | - Michael Berk
- Deakin University, IMPACT - the Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, School of Medicine, Barwon Health, Geelong, Australia; Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health and the Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
| | - David Jonathan Castle
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Centre for Addiction & Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Andrea de Bartolomeis
- Section of Psychiatry - Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences, and Dentistry, University School of Medicine Federico II, Naples, Italy; Chair Staff for Health Education and Sustainable Development, UNESCO, Naples, Italy.
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Nedic Erjavec G, Uzun S, Nikolac Perkovic M, Kozumplik O, Svob Strac D, Mimica N, Hirasawa-Fujita M, Domino EF, Pivac N. Cortisol in schizophrenia: No association with tobacco smoking, clinical symptoms or antipsychotic medication. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2017; 77:228-235. [PMID: 28461252 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2017.04.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2016] [Revised: 03/30/2017] [Accepted: 04/04/2017] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Cigarette smoking is associated with higher cortisol levels in healthy subjects. In schizophrenia this relationship is not clear. There are divergent results on the association between cortisol with smoking, clinical symptoms and medication in schizophrenia. This study evaluated this association in 196 Caucasian inpatients with schizophrenia (51.30±26.68years old), subdivided into 123 smokers and 73 non-smokers. Basal salivary cortisol levels were measured twice, at 08.00 and 09.00AM, 90-120min after awakening. The effect of smoking on cortisol was evaluated according to current smoking status, the number of cigarettes/day and the nicotine addiction intensity. The influence of clinical symptoms and/or antipsychotic medication on cortisol was determined using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), and chlorpromazine equivalent doses. Non-smokers were older, received lower doses of antipsychotics, had higher PANSS scores, and had longer duration of illness than smokers. Salivary cortisol was similar in schizophrenic patients subdivided according to the smoking status, the number of cigarettes/day and nicotine addiction intensity. No significant correlation was found between salivary cortisol and PANSS scores, chlorpromazine equivalent doses, age of onset or the duration of illness. The findings revealed no association between salivary cortisol and smoking, nicotine addiction intensity, or clinical symptoms. Our preliminary data showed no correlation between salivary cortisol and chlorpromazine equivalent doses and/or antipsychotic medication. Our findings suggest that smoking does not affect the cortisol response in schizophrenic patients as it has been shown in healthy individuals. Future studies should investigate a possible desensitization of the stress system to smoking.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Suzana Uzun
- Clinic for Psychiatry Vrapce, Zagreb, Croatia
| | | | | | | | | | - Mika Hirasawa-Fujita
- University of Michigan, Department of Pharmacology, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5632, USA
| | - Edward F Domino
- University of Michigan, Department of Pharmacology, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5632, USA
| | - Nela Pivac
- Rudjer Boskovic Institute, Division of Molecular Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia.
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4
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Lange C, Deutschenbaur L, Borgwardt S, Lang UE, Walter M, Huber CG. Experimentally induced psychosocial stress in schizophrenia spectrum disorders: A systematic review. Schizophr Res 2017; 182:4-12. [PMID: 27733301 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2016.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2016] [Revised: 09/22/2016] [Accepted: 10/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is evidence that exposure to social stress plays a crucial role in the onset and relapse of schizophrenia; however, the reaction of patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder (SSD) to experimentally induced social stress is not yet fully understood. METHOD Original research published between January 1993 and August 2015 was included in this systematic literature research. Social stress paradigms, reporting subjective responses to stress measures, plasma or saliva cortisol, or heart rate (HR) in patients with SSD were included. 1528 articles were screened, 11 papers (390 patients) were included. RESULTS Three main findings were attained concerning chronically ill patients: (1) overall similar subjective responses to stress ratings between SDD patients and controls, (2) no group differences in cortisol response to psychosocial stress and (3) an increase in HR after the stress exposure was seen in patients and controls. The study examining first-episode patients found higher subjective responses to stress and lower stress-induced cortisol levels. CONCLUSION The results indicate that first-onset medication free patients may show differences in subjective responses to stress measures and cortisol release while chronically ill patients display no differences in subjective and cortisol response. This may be the correlate of a pathophysiological dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis prior or at the onset of SSD and a subsequent change in dysregulation during the course of the illness. Given the paucity of studies investigating psychosocial stress in SSD and the pathophysiological relevance of psychosocial stress for the illness, there is need for further research. (PROSPERO registration number: CRD42015026525).
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Lange
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
| | | | - Stefan Borgwardt
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Undine E Lang
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Marc Walter
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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Girshkin L, O'Reilly N, Quidé Y, Teroganova N, Rowland JE, Schofield PR, Green MJ. Diurnal cortisol variation and cortisol response to an MRI stressor in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2016; 67:61-9. [PMID: 26874562 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2016.01.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2015] [Revised: 01/05/2016] [Accepted: 01/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Markers of HPA axis function, including diurnal cortisol rhythm and cortisol responses to stress or pharmacological manipulation, are increasingly reported as disrupted in schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BD). However, there has been no direct comparison of cortisol responses to stress in SZ and BD in the same study, and associations between cortisol dysfunction and illness characteristics remain unclear. In this study we used spline embedded linear mixed models to examine cortisol levels of SZ and BD participants at waking, during the first 45min after waking (representing the cortisol awakening response; CAR), during the period of rapid cortisol decline post the awakening response, and in reaction to a stressor (MRI scan), relative to healthy controls (HC). Contrary to expectations, neither SZ nor BD showed differences in waking cortisol levels, CAR, or immediate post-CAR decline compared to HC; however, waking cortisol levels were greater in BD relative to SZ. In response to the MRI stressor, the SZ group showed a significant absence of the expected increase in cortisol responsivity to stress, which was seen in both the BD and HC groups. Clinical factors affecting the CAR differed between SZ and BD. In SZ, higher antipsychotic medication dosage was associated with a steeper incline of the CAR, while greater positive symptom severity was associated with a more blunted CAR, and greater levels of anxiety were associated with the blunted cortisol response to stress. In BD, longer illness duration was associated with a steeper incline in CAR and lower levels of waking cortisol. These results suggest that cortisol responses may normalize with medication (in SZ) and longer illness duration (in BD), in line with findings of aberrant cortisol levels in the early stages of psychotic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah Girshkin
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Schizophrenia Research Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Nicole O'Reilly
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Black Dog Institute, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Yann Quidé
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Schizophrenia Research Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Nina Teroganova
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Schizophrenia Research Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Jesseca E Rowland
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Black Dog Institute, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Schizophrenia Research Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Peter R Schofield
- Schizophrenia Research Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia; School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Melissa J Green
- School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Black Dog Institute, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Schizophrenia Research Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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6
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White RG, Lysaker P, Gumley AI, McLeod H, McCleery M, O'Neill D, MacBeth A, Giurgi-Oncu C, Mulholland CC. Plasma cortisol levels and illness appraisal in deficit syndrome schizophrenia. Psychiatry Res 2014; 220:765-71. [PMID: 25262562 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2014.08.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2013] [Revised: 08/21/2014] [Accepted: 08/24/2014] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Research investigating the association between negative symptoms and plasma cortisol levels in individuals with schizophrenia has produced inconsistent findings. This study investigated whether deficit syndrome schizophrenia (characterized by high levels of primary negative symptoms) is associated with comparatively high morning plasma cortisol levels, more negative appraisals about illness and higher levels of depression. Participants were 85 individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia and 85 individuals with no history of contact with psychiatric services matched for age and gender. All participants provided fasting 9.00a.m. plasma cortisol samples. There were no significant differences between the schizophrenia and control participants in plasma cortisol levels. The Proximal Deficit Syndrome method was used to identify individuals with deficit syndrome schizophrenia. Contrary to what had been hypothesized, participants with deficit syndrome schizophrenia had significantly lower plasma cortisol levels than both non-deficit syndrome participants and control participants. Participants with the deficit syndrome reported significantly less negative appraisals about illness (assessed by PBIQ) and lower levels of depression (assessed by BDI-II). Differences in cortisol levels continued to trend toward significance when levels of depression were controlled for. The patterns of illness-related appraisals and plasma cortisol levels raise the possibility that the deficit syndrome could be a form of adaptation syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ross G White
- Institute of Health and Well-being, The University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 0XH, UK.
| | - Paul Lysaker
- Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Andrew I Gumley
- Institute of Health and Well-being, The University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 0XH, UK
| | - Hamish McLeod
- Institute of Health and Well-being, The University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 0XH, UK
| | - Muriel McCleery
- Department of Psychiatry, The Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast BT7 1NN, Ireland
| | - Donnacha O'Neill
- Department of Psychiatry, The Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast BT7 1NN, Ireland
| | - Angus MacBeth
- Centre for Rural Health, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3FX, UK
| | - Catalina Giurgi-Oncu
- The Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Timișoara, 300041, Romania
| | - Ciaran C Mulholland
- Department of Psychiatry, The Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast BT7 1NN, Ireland
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7
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Belvederi Murri M, Pariante CM, Dazzan P, Hepgul N, Papadopoulos AS, Zunszain P, Di Forti M, Murray RM, Mondelli V. Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and clinical symptoms in first-episode psychosis. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2012; 37:629-44. [PMID: 21930345 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2011.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2011] [Revised: 07/27/2011] [Accepted: 08/24/2011] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Abnormalities in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity have been reported in patients with psychosis, but it is still unclear how these are related to the clinical symptomatology. Inconsistent findings have emerged from previous studies on the association between cortisol levels and clinical symptoms. Methodological and/or clinical factors, such as patients' diagnosis or illness phase, might partially account for these inconsistencies. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between HPA axis activity and clinical symptoms in first-episode psychosis, taking into account diagnosis and illness phase. METHOD Saliva samples were collected in 55 subjects with first-episode psychosis to assess the Cortisol Awakening Response (CAR) and diurnal cortisol levels (AUC-DAY). Severity of symptoms was assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Scores for subscales and symptom dimensions were used as predictors in multivariate analyses in different diagnostic subgroups and in clinically remitted patients. In addition, a systematic review of the literature on this topic was conducted. RESULTS In subjects with schizophrenia (n=36), the CAR was predicted by the severity of positive symptoms (beta=0.47, p=0.04); in subjects with depressive psychoses (n=8) the CAR was predicted by excitement (beta=0.58, p=0.005), disorganization (beta=0.39, p=0.007) and depressive symptoms (beta=0.32, p=0.005). In patients with bipolar psychoses (n=11) AUC-DAY was predicted negatively by disorganization (beta=-2.82, p=0.009) and positively by excitement (beta=2.06, p=0.009) and positive symptoms (beta=1.28, p=0.02). In the sample in clinical remission (n=9), the CAR was associated with the severity of positive symptoms (beta=1.34, p=0.009) and, negatively, with excitement (beta=-1.05, p=0.04). The systematic review (on a total of 28 papers, including n=1022 patients), found that in patients with psychosis cortisol levels have been associated with the severity of multiple symptom dimensions. CONCLUSIONS HPA axis activity is associated with the severity of multiple types of symptoms in first-episode psychosis. Patients' diagnosis and clinical phase partially influence these associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martino Belvederi Murri
- Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, Department of Psychological Medicine, London, UK
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Papadopoulos V, Lecanu L. Caprospinol: discovery of a steroid drug candidate to treat Alzheimer's disease based on 22R-hydroxycholesterol structure and properties. J Neuroendocrinol 2012; 24:93-101. [PMID: 21623958 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2826.2011.02167.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The overall ability of the brain to synthesise neuroactive steroids led us to the identification of compounds that would reproduce aspects of neurosteroid pharmacology. The rate-determining step in neurosteroid biosynthesis is the import of the substrate cholesterol into the mitochondria, where it is metabolised into pregnenolone via the intermediate 22R-hydroxycholesterol. The levels of translocator protein 18-kDa, mediating the import of cholesterol into mitochondria, correlated with increased pregnenolone formation and reduced levels of 22R-hydroxycholesterol in biopsies from Alzheimer's disease (AD), but not age-matched control, brains. 22R-hydroxycholesterol was shown to protect against β-amyloid (Aβ(42) )-induced neurotoxicity. In search of 22R-hydroxycholesterol stable analogues, we identified the naturally occurring heterospirostenol, (22R,25R)-20α-spirost-5-en-3β-yl hexanoate (caprospinol) and derivatives that protect neuronal cells against Aβ(1-42) neurotoxicity. The neuroprotective effect of caprospinol is the result of a combination of overlapping properties, including: (i) the ability to bind to Aβ(42) and reduce plaque formation in the brain in vivo; (ii) interaction with components of the mitochondria respiratory chain resulting in an anti-uncoupling effect; (iii) the capacity to scavenge Aβ(42) monomers present in mitochondria; and (iv) the property of being a sigma-1 receptor ligand. In vivo, caprospinol crosses the blood-brain barrier, accumulates in the brain, and restores cognitive impairment in a pharmacological rat model of AD. Caprospinol is stable, does not bind to known steroid receptors, is devoid of mutagenic and genotoxic properties, and is devoid of acute toxicity in rodents. The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of caprospinol were studied, and long-term toxicity studies are under investigation, aiming to develop this compound as a disease-modifying drug for the treatment of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Papadopoulos
- The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre and Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
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9
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Mondelli V, Dazzan P, Hepgul N, Di Forti M, Aas M, D'Albenzio A, Di Nicola M, Fisher H, Handley R, Marques TR, Morgan C, Navari S, Taylor H, Papadopoulos A, Aitchison KJ, Murray RM, Pariante CM. Abnormal cortisol levels during the day and cortisol awakening response in first-episode psychosis: the role of stress and of antipsychotic treatment. Schizophr Res 2010; 116:234-42. [PMID: 19751968 PMCID: PMC3513410 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2009.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 217] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2009] [Revised: 05/18/2009] [Accepted: 08/20/2009] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
First-episode psychosis (FEP) patients show hyperactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, but the mechanisms leading to this are still unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of stress and antipsychotic treatment on diurnal cortisol levels, and on cortisol awakening response, in FEP. Recent stressful events, perceived stress and childhood trauma were collected in 50 FEP patients and 36 healthy controls using structured instruments. Salivary cortisol was obtained at awakening, at 15, 30, and 60min after awakening, and at 12 and 8pm. Patients experienced more recent stressful events, perceived stress and childhood trauma than controls (p<0.001). Patients had a trend for higher diurnal cortisol levels (p=0.055), with those with less than two weeks of antipsychotics showing significantly higher cortisol levels than both patients with more than two weeks of antipsychotics (p=0.005) and controls (p=0.002). Moreover, patients showed a blunted cortisol awakening response compared with controls, irrespectively of antipsychotic treatment (p=0.049). These abnormalities in patients were not driven by the excess of stressors: diurnal cortisol levels were negatively correlated with the number of recent stressful events (r=-0.36, p=0.014), and cortisol awakening response was positively correlated with a history of sexual childhood abuse (r=0.33, p=0.033). No significant correlations were found between perceived stress or severity of symptoms and cortisol levels, either diurnal or in the awakening response. Our study shows that antipsychotics normalize diurnal cortisol hyper-secretion but not the blunted cortisol awakening response in FEP; factors other than the excess of psychosocial stress explain HPA axis abnormalities in FEP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Mondelli
- Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, Division of Psychological Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
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