CSF1R regulates schizophrenia-related stress response and vascular association of microglia/macrophages

Surface-based analysis of early cortical gyrification and thickness alterations in treatment-Naïve, first-episode depressive patients during emerging adulthood

BACKGROUND

Extensive research, predominantly in adults, has highlighted structural brain variations among patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). However, emerging adults, who undergo significant cortical reshaping and are highly vulnerable to depression, receive relatively little attention, despite reporting a higher prevalence of childhood trauma experiences. This study examines cortical gyrification and thickness in emerging adults with first-episode, treatment-naïve MDD, with the objective of investigating their association with childhood trauma.

METHODS

Eighty-six emerging adults diagnosed with MDD, aged 18 to 25, and eighty-one healthy controls (HCs), underwent T1-MRI scans. We compared the local gyrification index (LGI) and cortical thickness (CT) between the two groups. Subsequently, we examined the relationship between the LGI and CT in clusters showing differences and childhood trauma as well as clinical characteristics in emerging adults with MDD.

RESULTS

Compared to HCs, MDD showed decreased LGI in the bilateral superior frontal cortices (SFC) and CT in the left pericalcarine cortex (PCC), while an increase in CT was observed in the left lateral orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). The reduction in LGI of the right SFC and the decrease in CT of the left PCC are associated with childhood trauma. Notably these brain abnormalities were not significantly associated with depressive and anxiety symptoms, or the duration of illness.

CONCLUSION

Abnormal cortical development observed in emerging adults with first episode depression may act as a predisposing factor for depression, irrespective of clinical manifestations, and may be linked to childhood trauma.

Identification of hub genes and transcription factors in patients with primary gout complicated with atherosclerosis

Evidence shows that primary gout is prone to develop to atherosclerosis, but the mechanism of its occurrence is still not fully clarified. The aim of this study was to explore the molecular mechanism of the occurrence of this complication in gout. The gene expression profiles of primary gout and atherosclerosis were downloaded from the gene expression omnibus database. Overlapping differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between gout and atherosclerosis were identified. The biological roles of common DEGs were explored through enrichment analyses. Hub genes were identified using protein-protein interaction networks. The immune infiltrations of 28 types of immune cells in gout and control samples from GSE160170 were evaluated by the ssGSEA method. Transcription factors (TFs) were predicted using Transcriptional Regulatory Relationships Unraveled by Sentence Based Text Mining (TRRUST) database. A total of 168 overlapping DEGs were identified. Functional enrichment analyses indicated that DEGs were mostly enriched in chemokine signaling pathway, regulation of actin cytoskeleton, and TNF signaling pathway. CytoScape demonstrated 11 hub genes and two gene cluster modules. The immune infiltration analysis showed that the expression of DEGs in gout was significantly upregulated in activated CD4 T cells, gamma delta T cells, T follicular helper cell, CD56dim natural killer cells, and eosinophil. TRRUST predicted one TF, RUNX family transcription factor 1. Our study explored the pathogenesis of gout with atherosclerosis and discovered the immune infiltration of gout. These results may guide future experimental research and clinical transformation.

Causal effects of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease on cerebral cortical structure: a Mendelian randomization analysis

Background

Previous studies have highlighted changes in the cerebral cortical structure and cognitive function among nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients. However, the impact of NAFLD on cerebral cortical structure and specific affected brain regions remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to explore the potential causal relationship between NAFLD and cerebral cortical structure.

Methods

We conducted a Mendelian randomization (MR) study using genetic predictors of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), NAFLD, and percent liver fat (PLF) and combined them with genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics from the ENIGMA Consortium. Several methods were used to assess the effect of NAFLD on full cortex and specific brain regions, along with sensitivity analyses.

Results

At the global level, PLF nominally decreased SA of full cortex; at the functional level, ALT presented a nominal association with reduced SA of parahippocampal gyrus, TH of pars opercularis, TH of pars orbitalis, and TH of pericalcarine cortex. Besides, NAFLD presented a nominal association with reduced SA of parahippocampal gyrus, TH of pars opercularis, TH of pars triangularis and TH of pericalcarine cortex, but increased TH of entorhinal cortex, lateral orbitofrontal cortex and temporal pole. Furthermore, PLF presented a nominal association with reduced SA of parahippocampal gyrus, TH of pars opercularis, TH of cuneus and lingual gyrus, but increased TH of entorhinal cortex.

Conclusion

NAFLD is suggestively associated with atrophy in specific functional regions of the human brain.