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Qin K, Li H, Zhang H, Yin L, Wu B, Pan N, Chen T, Roberts N, Sweeney JA, Huang X, Gong Q, Jia Z. Transcriptional Patterns of Brain Structural Covariance Network Abnormalities Associated With Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors in Major Depressive Disorder. Biol Psychiatry 2024; 96:435-444. [PMID: 38316331 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2024.01.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2023] [Revised: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although brain structural covariance network (SCN) abnormalities have been associated with suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) in individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD), previous studies have reported inconsistent findings based on small sample sizes, and underlying transcriptional patterns remain poorly understood. METHODS Using a multicenter magnetic resonance imaging dataset including 218 MDD patients with STBs, 230 MDD patients without STBs, and 263 healthy control participants, we established individualized SCNs based on regional morphometric measures and assessed network topological metrics using graph theoretical analysis. Machine learning methods were applied to explore and compare the diagnostic value of morphometric and topological features in identifying MDD and STBs at the individual level. Brainwide relationships between STBs-related connectomic alterations and gene expression were examined using partial least squares regression. RESULTS Group comparisons revealed that SCN topological deficits associated with STBs were identified in the prefrontal, anterior cingulate, and lateral temporal cortices. Combining morphometric and topological features allowed for individual-level characterization of MDD and STBs. Topological features made a greater contribution to distinguishing between patients with and without STBs. STBs-related connectomic alterations were spatially correlated with the expression of genes enriched for cellular metabolism and synaptic signaling. CONCLUSIONS These findings revealed robust brain structural deficits at the network level, highlighting the importance of SCN topological measures in characterizing individual suicidality and demonstrating its linkage to molecular function and cell types, providing novel insights into the neurobiological underpinnings and potential markers for prediction and prevention of suicide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Qin
- Department of Radiology and Huaxi MR Research Center, Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Department of Radiology, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China; Research Unit of Psychoradiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, China; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Huiru Li
- Department of Radiology and Huaxi MR Research Center, Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Research Unit of Psychoradiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, China; Department of Medical Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Huawei Zhang
- Department of Radiology and Huaxi MR Research Center, Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Li Yin
- Department of Psychiatry, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Baolin Wu
- Department of Radiology and Huaxi MR Research Center, Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Nanfang Pan
- Department of Radiology and Huaxi MR Research Center, Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Research Unit of Psychoradiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Taolin Chen
- Department of Radiology and Huaxi MR Research Center, Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Research Unit of Psychoradiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Neil Roberts
- Queens Medical Research Institute, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - John A Sweeney
- Department of Radiology and Huaxi MR Research Center, Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Xiaoqi Huang
- Department of Radiology and Huaxi MR Research Center, Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Research Unit of Psychoradiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, China
| | - Qiyong Gong
- Department of Radiology and Huaxi MR Research Center, Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Department of Radiology, West China Xiamen Hospital of Sichuan University, Xiamen, Fujian, China.
| | - Zhiyun Jia
- Research Unit of Psychoradiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu, China; Department of Nuclear Medicine, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
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Qin K, Sweeney JA, DelBello MP. The inferior frontal gyrus and familial risk for bipolar disorder. PSYCHORADIOLOGY 2022; 2:171-179. [PMID: 38665274 PMCID: PMC10917220 DOI: 10.1093/psyrad/kkac022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Bipolar disorder (BD) is a familial disorder with high heritability. Genetic factors have been linked to the pathogenesis of BD. Relatives of probands with BD who are at familial risk can exhibit brain abnormalities prior to illness onset. Given its involvement in prefrontal cognitive control and in frontolimbic circuitry that regulates emotional reactivity, the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) has been a focus of research in studies of BD-related pathology and BD-risk mechanism. In this review, we discuss multimodal neuroimaging findings of the IFG based on studies comparing at-risk relatives and low-risk controls. Review of these studies in at-risk cases suggests the presence of both risk and resilience markers related to the IFG. At-risk individuals exhibited larger gray matter volume and increased functional activities in IFG compared with low-risk controls, which might result from an adaptive brain compensation to support emotion regulation as an aspect of psychological resilience. Functional connectivity between IFG and downstream limbic or striatal areas was typically decreased in at-risk individuals relative to controls, which could contribute to risk-related problems of cognitive and emotional control. Large-scale and longitudinal investigations on at-risk individuals will further elucidate the role of IFG and other brain regions in relation to familial risk for BD, and together guide identification of at-risk individuals for primary prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Qin
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45219, USA
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - John A Sweeney
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45219, USA
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Melissa P DelBello
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45219, USA
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