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Clark IA, Vissel B. Autocrine positive feedback of tumor necrosis factor from activated microglia proposed to be of widespread relevance in chronic neurological disease. Pharmacol Res Perspect 2023; 11:e01136. [PMID: 37750203 PMCID: PMC10520644 DOI: 10.1002/prp2.1136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Over a decade's experience of post-stroke rehabilitation by administering the specific anti-TNF biological, etanercept, by the novel perispinal route, is consistent with a wide range of chronically diminished neurological function having been caused by persistent excessive cerebral levels of TNF. We propose that this TNF persistence, and cerebral disease chronicity, largely arises from a positive autocrine feedback loop of this cytokine, allowing the persistence of microglial activation caused by the excess TNF that these cells produce. It appears that many of these observations have never been exploited to construct a broad understanding and treatment of certain chronic, yet reversible, neurological illnesses. We propose that this treatment allows these chronically activated microglia to revert to their normal quiescent state, rather than simply neutralizing the direct harmful effects of this cytokine after its release from microglia. Logically, this also applies to the chronic cerebral aspects of various other neurological conditions characterized by activated microglia. These include long COVID, Lyme disease, post-stroke syndromes, traumatic brain injury, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, post-chemotherapy, post-irradiation cerebral dysfunction, cerebral palsy, fetal alcohol syndrome, hepatic encephalopathy, the antinociceptive state of morphine tolerance, and neurogenic pain. In addition, certain psychiatric states, in isolation or as sequelae of infectious diseases such as Lyme disease and long COVID, are candidates for being understood through this approach and treated accordingly. Perispinal etanercept provides the prospect of being able to treat various chronic central nervous system illnesses, whether they are of infectious or non-infectious origin, through reversing excess TNF generation by microglia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian A. Clark
- Research School of Biology, Australian National UniversityCanberraAustralian Capital TerritoryAustralia
| | - Bryce Vissel
- St Vincent's Hospital Centre for Applied Medical ResearchSt Vincent's HospitalDarlinghurstAustralia
- UNSW Medicine & Health, St Vincent's Healthcare Clinical Campus, Faculty of Medicine and HealthSchool of Clinical Medicine, UNSW SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
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Clark IA. Chronic cerebral aspects of long COVID, post-stroke syndromes and similar states share their pathogenesis and perispinal etanercept treatment logic. Pharmacol Res Perspect 2022; 10:e00926. [PMID: 35174650 PMCID: PMC8850677 DOI: 10.1002/prp2.926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The chronic neurological aspects of traumatic brain injury, post‐stroke syndromes, long COVID‐19, persistent Lyme disease, and influenza encephalopathy having close pathophysiological parallels that warrant being investigated in an integrated manner. A mechanism, common to all, for this persistence of the range of symptoms common to these conditions is described. While TNF maintains cerebral homeostasis, its excessive production through either pathogen‐associated molecular patterns or damage‐associated molecular patterns activity associates with the persistence of the symptoms common across both infectious and non‐infectious conditions. The case is made that this shared chronicity arises from a positive feedback loop causing the persistence of the activation of microglia by the TNF that these cells generate. Lowering this excess TNF is the logical way to reducing this persistent, TNF‐maintained, microglial activation. While too large to negotiate the blood‐brain barrier effectively, the specific anti‐TNF biological, etanercept, shows promise when administered by the perispinal route, which allows it to bypass this obstruction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian Albert Clark
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
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Aucott JN, Yang T, Yoon I, Powell D, Geller SA, Rebman AW. Risk of post-treatment Lyme disease in patients with ideally-treated early Lyme disease: A prospective cohort study. Int J Infect Dis 2022; 116:230-237. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2022.01.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
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Rebman AW, Aucott JN, Weinstein ER, Bechtold KT, Smith KC, Leonard L. Living in Limbo: Contested Narratives of Patients With Chronic Symptoms Following Lyme Disease. QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH 2017; 27:534-546. [PMID: 26631681 DOI: 10.1177/1049732315619380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Persistent, subjective symptoms of unknown etiology following treatment for Lyme disease have been termed post- treatment Lyme disease syndrome or chronic Lyme disease (PTLDS/CLD). The objective of this study was to give primacy to the patient experience of this medically contested condition by eliciting patient illness narratives and identifying emergent issues through semistructured interviews conducted among 29 participants. We used thematic narrative analysis to identify three predominant themes: (a) Physical and social limitations lead to a "new normal" characterized by fundamental shifts of ways of being in the world, (b) disease-specific factors contribute to symptom and illness invisibility that affects social support in nuanced ways, and (c) pervasive medical uncertainty regarding PTLDS/CLD promotes an increased sense of personal responsibility for care. Similar to other contested or medically unexplained syndromes, our findings suggest that the social sequelae of PTLDS/CLD can be equally protracted as the physical effects of this illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison W Rebman
- 1 Lyme Disease Research Foundation, Lutherville, Maryland, USA
- 2 Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - John N Aucott
- 2 Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Eric R Weinstein
- 1 Lyme Disease Research Foundation, Lutherville, Maryland, USA
- 2 Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Katherine C Smith
- 3 Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Lori Leonard
- 3 Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- 4 Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
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New-onset panic, depression with suicidal thoughts, and somatic symptoms in a patient with a history of lyme disease. Case Rep Psychiatry 2015; 2015:457947. [PMID: 25922779 PMCID: PMC4397473 DOI: 10.1155/2015/457947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2015] [Accepted: 03/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Lyme Disease, or Lyme Borreliosis, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi and spread by ticks, is mainly known to cause arthritis and neurological disorders but can also cause psychiatric symptoms such as depression and anxiety. We present a case of a 37-year-old man with no known psychiatric history who developed panic attacks, severe depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation, and neuromuscular complaints including back spasms, joint pain, myalgias, and neuropathic pain. These symptoms began 2 years after being successfully treated for a positive Lyme test after receiving a tick bite. During inpatient psychiatric hospitalization his psychiatric and physical symptoms did not improve with antidepressant and anxiolytic treatments. The patient's panic attacks resolved after he was discharged and then, months later, treated with long-term antibiotics for suspected “chronic Lyme Disease” (CLD) despite having negative Lyme titers. He however continued to have subsyndromal depressive symptoms and chronic physical symptoms such as fatigue, myalgias, and neuropathy. We discuss the controversy surrounding the diagnosis of CLD and concerns and considerations in the treatment of suspected CLD patients with comorbid psychiatric diagnoses.
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Aucott JN, Rebman AW, Crowder LA, Kortte KB. Post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome symptomatology and the impact on life functioning: is there something here? Qual Life Res 2014; 22:75-84. [PMID: 22294245 PMCID: PMC3548099 DOI: 10.1007/s11136-012-0126-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/13/2012] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Purpose A subset of patients treated for Lyme disease report persistent or recurrent symptoms of unknown etiology named post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS). This study aims to describe a cohort of participants with early, untreated Lyme disease, and characterize post-treatment symptomatology and functional impact of PTLDS over time. Methods Sixty-three participants with erythema migrans and systemic symptoms were enrolled in a prospective cohort study. Participants underwent physical exams and clinical assessments, and completed the SF-36 (daily life functioning) and the Beck Depression Inventory, Second Edition (BDI-II) (depression), at each of five visits over a period of 6 months. Results Signs of Lyme disease disappeared post-treatment; however, new-onset patient-reported symptoms increased or plateaued over time. At 6 months, 36% of patients reported new-onset fatigue, 20% widespread pain, and 45% neurocognitive difficulties. However, less than 10% reported greater than “minimal” depression across the entire period. Those with PTLDS (36%) did not differ significantly from those without with respect to demographics, pre-treatment SF-36, and BDI-II scores. Statistically significant differences were found over time on the Role Physical, Vitality, Social Functioning, Role Emotional, and Mental Health subscales (with a trend toward significance for the remaining three subscales of Physical Functioning, Bodily Pain, and General Health) of the SF-36 between those with an eventual PTLDS diagnosis and those without when measured at 6 months. Conclusions Unlike clinical signs of Lyme disease, new-onset symptoms are reported by a subset of participants without evidence of depressive symptomatology. Patients who developed PTLDS had significantly lower life functioning compared to those without PTLDS. We propose future avenues for researching infection-triggered symptoms resulting from multiple mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- John N Aucott
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 10755 Falls Road, Suite 200, Lutherville, MD 21093, USA.
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Macauda MM, Erickson P, Miller J, Mann P, Closter L, Krause PJ. Long-Term Lyme Disease Antibiotic Therapy Beliefs Among New England Residents. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2011; 11:857-62. [DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2010.0116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Mark M. Macauda
- Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina
| | - Pamela Erickson
- Department of Anthropology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut
| | - Janice Miller
- Block Island Medical Center, Block Island, Rhode Island
| | - Paul Mann
- Block Island Medical Center, Block Island, Rhode Island
| | - Linda Closter
- Block Island Medical Center, Block Island, Rhode Island
| | - Peter J. Krause
- Yale School of Public Health and the Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
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Hassett AL, Radvanski DC, Buyske S, Savage SV, Sigal LH. Psychiatric comorbidity and other psychological factors in patients with "chronic Lyme disease". Am J Med 2009; 122:843-50. [PMID: 19699380 PMCID: PMC2751626 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2009.02.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2008] [Revised: 09/30/2008] [Accepted: 02/20/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is no evidence of current or previous Borrelia burgdorferi infection in most patients evaluated at university-based Lyme disease referral centers. Instead, psychological factors likely exacerbate the persistent diffuse symptoms or "Chronic Multisymptom Illness" (CMI) incorrectly ascribed to an ongoing chronic infection with B. burgdorferi. The objective of this study was to assess the medical and psychiatric status of such patients and compare these findings to those from patients without CMI. METHODS There were 240 consecutive patients who underwent medical evaluation and were screened for clinical disorders (eg, depression and anxiety) with diagnoses confirmed by structured clinical interviews at an academic Lyme disease referral center in New Jersey. Personality disorders, catastrophizing, and negative and positive affect also were evaluated, and all factors were compared between groups and with functional outcomes. RESULTS Of our sample, 60.4% had symptoms that could not be explained by current Lyme disease or another medical condition other than CMI. After adjusting for age and sex, clinical disorders were more common in CMI than in the comparison group (P <.001, odds ratio 3.54, 95% confidence interval, 1.97-6.55), but personality disorders were not significantly more common. CMI patients had higher negative affect, lower positive affect, and a greater tendency to catastrophize pain (P <.001) than did the comparison group. Except for personality disorders, all psychological factors were related to worse functioning. Our explanatory model based on these factors was confirmed. CONCLUSIONS Psychiatric comorbidity and other psychological factors are prominent in the presentation and outcome of some patients who inaccurately ascribe longstanding symptoms to "chronic Lyme disease."
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Affiliation(s)
- Afton L Hassett
- Division of Rheumatology and Connective Tissue Research, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ 08903-0019, USA.
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Hassett AL, Radvanski DC, Buyske S, Savage SV, Gara M, Escobar JI, Sigal LH. Role of psychiatric comorbidity in chronic Lyme disease. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008; 59:1742-9. [DOI: 10.1002/art.24314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
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Cairns V. Author's response to comments by Sigal and Hassett, Phillips et al., and Shapiro et al. Int J Epidemiol 2005. [DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyi244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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