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Ortega MA, Álvarez-Mon MA, García-Montero C, Fraile-Martínez Ó, Monserrat J, Martinez-Rozas L, Rodríguez-Jiménez R, Álvarez-Mon M, Lahera G. Microbiota-gut-brain axis mechanisms in the complex network of bipolar disorders: potential clinical implications and translational opportunities. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:2645-2673. [PMID: 36707651 PMCID: PMC10615769 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-01964-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Bipolar disorders (BD) represent a severe leading disabling mental condition worldwide characterized by episodic and often progressive mood fluctuations with manic and depressive stages. The biological mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of BD remain incompletely understood, but it seems that there is a complex picture of genetic and environmental factors implicated. Nowadays, gut microbiota is in the spotlight of new research related to this kind of psychiatric disorder, as it can be consistently related to several pathophysiological events observed in BD. In the context of the so-called microbiota-gut-brain (MGB) axis, it is shown to have a strong influence on host neuromodulation and endocrine functions (i.e., controlling the synthesis of neurotransmitters like serotonin or mediating the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis), as well as in modulation of host immune responses, critically regulating intestinal, systemic and brain inflammation (neuroinflammation). The present review aims to elucidate pathophysiological mechanisms derived from the MGB axis disruption and possible therapeutic approaches mainly focusing on gut microbiota in the complex network of BD. Understanding the mechanisms of gut microbiota and its bidirectional communication with the immune and other systems can shed light on the discovery of new therapies for improving the clinical management of these patients. Besides, the effect of psychiatric drugs on gut microbiota currently used in BD patients, together with new therapeutical approaches targeting this ecosystem (dietary patterns, probiotics, prebiotics, and other novelties) will also be contemplated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel A Ortega
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, University of Alcala, Alcalá de Henares, Spain.
- Ramón y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Miguel Angel Álvarez-Mon
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, University of Alcala, Alcalá de Henares, Spain
- Ramón y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Hospital Universitario Infanta Leonor, Madrid, Spain
| | - Cielo García-Montero
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, University of Alcala, Alcalá de Henares, Spain
- Ramón y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Óscar Fraile-Martínez
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, University of Alcala, Alcalá de Henares, Spain
- Ramón y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jorge Monserrat
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, University of Alcala, Alcalá de Henares, Spain
- Ramón y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Lucia Martinez-Rozas
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, University of Alcala, Alcalá de Henares, Spain
- Ramón y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Roberto Rodríguez-Jiménez
- Department of Legal Medicine and Psychiatry, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain
- Institute for Health Research 12 de Octubre Hospital, (Imas 12)/CIBERSAM (Biomedical Research Networking Centre in Mental Health), Madrid, Spain
| | - Melchor Álvarez-Mon
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, University of Alcala, Alcalá de Henares, Spain
- Ramón y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
- Immune System Diseases-Rheumatology, Oncology Service an Internal Medicine, University Hospital Príncipe de Asturias (CIBEREHD), Alcalá de Henares, Spain
- Psychiatry Service, Center for Biomedical Research in the Mental Health Network, University Hospital Príncipe de Asturias, Alcalá de Henares, Spain
| | - Guillermo Lahera
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, University of Alcala, Alcalá de Henares, Spain
- Ramón y Cajal Institute of Sanitary Research (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
- Psychiatry Service, Center for Biomedical Research in the Mental Health Network, University Hospital Príncipe de Asturias, Alcalá de Henares, Spain
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2
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Simonetti A, Bernardi E, Margoni S, Catinari A, Restaino A, Ieritano V, Palazzetti M, Mastrantonio F, Janiri D, Tosato M, Landi F, Sani G. Mixed Depression in the Post-COVID-19 Syndrome: Correlation between Excitatory Symptoms in Depression and Physical Burden after COVID-19. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13040688. [PMID: 37190653 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13040688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The relationship between depression and post-COVID-19 disease syndrome (post-COVID-19 syndrome) is established. Nevertheless, few studies have investigated the association between post-COVID-19 syndrome and mixed depression, i.e., a specific sub-form of depression characterized by high level of excitatory symptoms. Aims of the present study are: (a) to compare the post-COVID-19 syndrome's burden in depressed and non-depressed patients, and (b) to investigate the correlation between post-COVID-19 syndrome's burden and the severity of mixed depression. One thousand and forty six (n = 1460) subjects with post-COVID-19 syndrome were assessed. Subjects were divided into those with (DEP) or without (CONT) depression. Sociodemographically, post-COVID-19 syndrome's symptoms number and type were compared. In DEP, association between levels of excitatory symptoms and the presence of post-COVID-19 syndrome's symptoms were additionally assessed. DEP showed greater percentages of family history of psychiatric disorders than CONT. DEP showed higher percentages of post-COVID-19 symptoms than CONT. A greater level of excitatory symptoms were associated to higher frequencies of post-COVID-19 syndrome' symptoms. Higher levels of post-COVID-19 syndrome's symptoms in DEP corroborate the evidence of a common pathway between these two syndromes. Presence of excitatory symptoms seem to additionally add a greater illness burden. Such findings might help clinicians choose the appropriate treatment for such states. More specifically, therapies aimed to treat excitatory symptoms, such as antipsychotics and mood stabilizers, might help reduce the illness burden in post-COVID-19 patients with mixed depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessio Simonetti
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Psychiatry, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
- Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Evelina Bernardi
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Psychiatry, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Stella Margoni
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Psychiatry, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Antonello Catinari
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Psychiatry, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Restaino
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Psychiatry, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Valentina Ieritano
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Psychiatry, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Marta Palazzetti
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Psychiatry, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Federico Mastrantonio
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Psychiatry, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Delfina Janiri
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Psychiatry, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Matteo Tosato
- Department of Geriatrics, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
- Department of Geriatrics, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Landi
- Department of Geriatrics, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
- Department of Geriatrics, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriele Sani
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Psychiatry, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
- Department of Neurosciences, Section of Psychiatry, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
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Tournikioti K, Alevizaki M, Michopoulos I, Mantzou A, Soldatos CR, Douzenis A, Dikeos D, Ferentinos P. Differential association of cortisol with visual memory/learning and executive function in Bipolar Disorder. Psychiatry Res 2022; 307:114301. [PMID: 34861422 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2021.114301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The association of cortisol with cognition has been understudied in Bipolar Disorder (BD); available evidence is inconsistent while it is unknown whether cortisol's effects vary across neurocognitive domains implicating different brain structures. This study aimed to examine the association of cortisol with two cognitive tasks targeting visual memory and executive function (planning) in BD, related to the hippocampus and prefrontal lobe, respectively. Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) tasks targeting paired associative learning (PAL) and planning (Stockings of Cambridge; SOC) were administered to 60 BD type I patients. Basal serum cortisol was also measured. Higher cortisol was associated with worse performance in PAL, but not SOC, after controlling for gender, education, illness duration and treatment with mood stabilizers. This is the first study to examine the association of cortisol with neurocognitive function in BD while controlling for clinicodemographic and treatment-related factors. We found a significant association of cortisol with hippocampal-related visual memory/learning but not with prefrontal lobe-related executive function, suggesting domain-specific underlying mechanisms of cognitive dysfunction in BD. Future studies should further explore cortisol's brain structure-specific effects on cognitive functioning in BD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kalliopi Tournikioti
- Second Department of Psychiatry, Attikon General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece.
| | - Maria Alevizaki
- Endocrine Unit, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | - Ioannis Michopoulos
- Second Department of Psychiatry, Attikon General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | - Aimilia Mantzou
- Endocrine Unit, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | - Constantin R Soldatos
- Mental Health Care Unit, Evgenidion Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | - Athanasios Douzenis
- Second Department of Psychiatry, Attikon General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitris Dikeos
- First Department of Psychiatry, Eginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | - Panagiotis Ferentinos
- Second Department of Psychiatry, Attikon General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece
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Szczepankiewicz D, Narożna B, Celichowski P, Sakrajda K, Kołodziejski P, Banach E, Zakowicz P, Pruszyńska-Oszmałek E, Pawlak J, Wiłkość M, Dmitrzak-Węglarz M, Skibińska M, Bejger A, Twarowska-Hauser J, Rybakowski JK, Nogowski L, Szczepankiewicz A. Genes involved in glucocorticoid receptor signalling affect susceptibility to mood disorders. World J Biol Psychiatry 2021; 22:149-160. [PMID: 32400287 DOI: 10.1080/15622975.2020.1766109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES In mood disorders chronic stress contributes to decreased glucocorticoid receptor signalling in the brain and resistance in the periphery. We hypothesised that aberrant glucocorticoid receptor function may result from genetic predisposition and that decreased GR signalling in the brain correlates with the expression of genes regulating GR complex formation. METHODS We performed the association analysis of 698 patients: 490 patients with bipolar disorder and 208 patients with major depressive disorder and 564 control subjects. We genotyped 11 variants using TaqMan assays. Gene expression in the brain tissue was done in male Wistar rats after chronic mild stress protocol. The SRSF5 serum concentration was performed using ELISA. Data were analysed in Statistica and GraphPad. RESULTS We found an association of STIP1 and SRSF5 variants with major depressive disorder and BAG1 variant with bipolar disorder. Gene expression analysis in a rat model of depression confirmed significant changes in the expression of SRSF5, BAG1, and FKBP4 in the brain. For SRSF5, we observed significantly increased expression in the serum of depressed females and male rats exposed to chronic stress. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate the involvement of genes associated with GR function, SRSF5, BAG1, and FKBP4 with susceptibility to mood disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dawid Szczepankiewicz
- Department of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Biostructure, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Beata Narożna
- Molecular and Cell Biology Unit, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland
| | - Piotr Celichowski
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Kosma Sakrajda
- Molecular and Cell Biology Unit, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland
| | - Paweł Kołodziejski
- Department of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Biostructure, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Ewa Banach
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Przemysław Zakowicz
- Department of Psychiatric Genetics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.,Children and Adolescent Treatment Center, Zielona Góra, Poland
| | - Ewa Pruszyńska-Oszmałek
- Department of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Biostructure, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Joanna Pawlak
- Department of Psychiatric Genetics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Monika Wiłkość
- Department of Individual Differences Psychology, Psychology Institute, Kazimierz Wielki University in Bydgoszcz, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | | | - Maria Skibińska
- Department of Psychiatric Genetics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Alicja Bejger
- Department of Psychiatric Genetics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | | | - Janusz K Rybakowski
- Deparment of Adult Psychiatry, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.,Department of Psychiatric Nursing, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Leszek Nogowski
- Department of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Biostructure, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Poznan, Poland
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Scaini G, Valvassori SS, Diaz AP, Lima CN, Benevenuto D, Fries GR, Quevedo J. Neurobiology of bipolar disorders: a review of genetic components, signaling pathways, biochemical changes, and neuroimaging findings. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 42:536-551. [PMID: 32267339 PMCID: PMC7524405 DOI: 10.1590/1516-4446-2019-0732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Accepted: 12/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Bipolar disorder (BD) is a chronic mental illness characterized by changes in mood that alternate between mania and hypomania or between depression and mixed states, often associated with functional impairment. Although effective pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments are available, several patients with BD remain symptomatic. The advance in the understanding of the neurobiology underlying BD could help in the identification of new therapeutic targets as well as biomarkers for early detection, prognosis, and response to treatment in BD. In this review, we discuss genetic, epigenetic, molecular, physiological and neuroimaging findings associated with the neurobiology of BD. Despite the advances in the pathophysiological knowledge of BD, the diagnosis and management of the disease are still essentially clinical. Given the complexity of the brain and the close relationship between environmental exposure and brain function, initiatives that incorporate genetic, epigenetic, molecular, physiological, clinical, environmental data, and brain imaging are necessary to produce information that can be translated into prevention and better outcomes for patients with BD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giselli Scaini
- Translational Psychiatry Program Louis A. Faillace, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX, USA
| | - Samira S Valvassori
- Laboratório de Psiquiatria Translacional, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense (UNESC), Criciúma, SC, Brazil
| | - Alexandre P Diaz
- Translational Psychiatry Program Louis A. Faillace, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX, USA.,Center of Excellence on Mood Disorders Louis A. Faillace, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at McGovern Medical School, UTHealth, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Camila N Lima
- Translational Psychiatry Program Louis A. Faillace, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX, USA
| | - Deborah Benevenuto
- Translational Psychiatry Program Louis A. Faillace, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX, USA
| | - Gabriel R Fries
- Translational Psychiatry Program Louis A. Faillace, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX, USA.,Center for Precision Health, School of Biomedical Informatics, UTHealth, Houston, TX, USA.,Neuroscience Graduate Program, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, UTHealth, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Joao Quevedo
- Translational Psychiatry Program Louis A. Faillace, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, TX, USA.,Laboratório de Psiquiatria Translacional, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense (UNESC), Criciúma, SC, Brazil.,Center of Excellence on Mood Disorders Louis A. Faillace, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at McGovern Medical School, UTHealth, Houston, TX, USA.,Neuroscience Graduate Program, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, UTHealth, Houston, TX, USA
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6
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Abstract
Interest in the coexistence of manic and depressive symptoms fostered hypotheses on neurobiological underpinnings of mixed states. Neurobiological properties of mixed states, however, have not been comprehensively described. The authors searched databases for articles on neurobiological markers related to mixed states. Results showed that mixed states are characterized by elevated central and peripheral monoamine levels, greater alterations in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, increased inflammation, and greater circadian rhythms dysfunction than nonmixed forms. Furthermore, the magnitude of pathophysiologic alterations in mixed states exceeds those associated with nonmixed mania or depression and suggest that hyperactivation and hyperarousal are core features of mixed states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessio Simonetti
- Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, 1977 Butler Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy; Centro Lucio Bini, Rome, Italy.
| | - Marijn Lijffijt
- Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, 1977 Butler Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Alan C Swann
- Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, 1977 Butler Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX, USA
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