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Chang CY, Chang HH, Wu CY, Tsai YT, Lu TH, Chang WH, Hsu CF, Chen PS, Tseng HH. Peripheral inflammation is associated with impaired sadness recognition in euthymic bipolar patients. J Psychiatr Res 2024; 173:333-339. [PMID: 38579478 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2024.03.049] [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: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Inflammation impairs cognitive function in healthy individuals and people with psychiatric disorders, such as bipolar disorder (BD). This effect may also impact emotion recognition, a fundamental element of social cognition. Our study aimed to investigate the relationships between pro-inflammatory cytokines and emotion recognition in euthymic BD patients and healthy controls (HCs). METHODS We recruited forty-four euthymic BD patients and forty healthy controls (HCs) and measured their inflammatory markers, including high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and TNF-α. We applied validated cognitive tasks, the Wisconsin Card-Sorting Test (WCST) and Continuous Performance Test (CPT), and a social cognitive task for emotion recognition, Diagnostic Analyses of Nonverbal Accuracy, Taiwanese Version (DANVA-2-TW). We analyzed the relationships between cytokines and cognition and then explored possible predictive factors of sadness recognition accuracy. RESULTS Regarding pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-α was elevated in euthymic BD patients relative to HCs. In euthymic BD patients only, higher TNF-α levels were associated with lower accuracy of sadness recognition. Regression analysis revealed that TNF-α was an independent predictive factor of sadness recognition in patients with euthymic BD when neurocognition was controlled for. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrated that enhanced inflammation, indicated by increased TNF-α, was an independent predictive factor of impaired sadness recognition in BD patients but not in HCs. Our findings suggested a direct influence of TNF-α on sadness recognition and indicated vulnerability to depression in euthymic BD patients with chronic inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chih-Yu Chang
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan
| | - Hui Hua Chang
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng University, Tainan, Taiwan; School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Department of Pharmacy, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Department of Pharmacy, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Dou-Liou Branch, Yunlin, Taiwan
| | - Cheng Ying Wu
- Department of Psychiatry, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Ying Tsung Tsai
- Department of Psychiatry, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Tsung-Hua Lu
- Department of Psychiatry, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Wei Hung Chang
- Department of Psychiatry, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Department of Psychiatry, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Dou-Liou Branch, Yunlin, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Fen Hsu
- Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan City, Taiwan
| | - Po See Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Institute of Behavioral Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Huai-Hsuan Tseng
- Department of Psychiatry, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Institute of Behavioral Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
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Wang R, Li L, Chen M, Li X, Liu Y, Xue Z, Ma Q, Chen J. Gene expression insights: Chronic stress and bipolar disorder: A bioinformatics investigation. MATHEMATICAL BIOSCIENCES AND ENGINEERING : MBE 2024; 21:392-414. [PMID: 38303428 DOI: 10.3934/mbe.2024018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Bipolar disorder (BD) is a psychiatric disorder that affects an increasing number of people worldwide. The mechanisms of BD are unclear, but some studies have suggested that it may be related to genetic factors with high heritability. Moreover, research has shown that chronic stress can contribute to the development of major illnesses. In this paper, we used bioinformatics methods to analyze the possible mechanisms of chronic stress affecting BD through various aspects. We obtained gene expression data from postmortem brains of BD patients and healthy controls in datasets GSE12649 and GSE53987, and we identified 11 chronic stress-related genes (CSRGs) that were differentially expressed in BD. Then, we screened five biomarkers (IGFBP6, ALOX5AP, MAOA, AIF1 and TRPM3) using machine learning models. We further validated the expression and diagnostic value of the biomarkers in other datasets (GSE5388 and GSE78936) and performed functional enrichment analysis, regulatory network analysis and drug prediction based on the biomarkers. Our bioinformatics analysis revealed that chronic stress can affect the occurrence and development of BD through many aspects, including monoamine oxidase production and decomposition, neuroinflammation, ion permeability, pain perception and others. In this paper, we confirm the importance of studying the genetic influences of chronic stress on BD and other psychiatric disorders and suggested that biomarkers related to chronic stress may be potential diagnostic tools and therapeutic targets for BD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rongyanqi Wang
- School of Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Lan Li
- College of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan 430065, China
| | - Man Chen
- College of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan 430065, China
| | - Xiaojuan Li
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Formula-Pattern of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Formula-Pattern Research Center, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Yueyun Liu
- School of Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Zhe Xue
- School of Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Qingyu Ma
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Formula-Pattern of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Formula-Pattern Research Center, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Jiaxu Chen
- School of Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
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Zandifar A, Badrfam R, Gholamian F, Shafiee A. Efficacy of spironolactone as adjunctive therapy to sodium valproate in bipolar-I disorder: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Brain Behav 2023; 13:e3313. [PMID: 37933420 PMCID: PMC10726882 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.3313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Treatment of mood and cognitive symptoms of patients with bipolar disorder is associated with many complications and is generally not associated with therapeutic satisfaction. In this clinical trial, we evaluated the effectiveness of spironolactone in controlling mood and cognitive symptoms, sleep quality, appetite, and body mass index in patients with bipolar disorder in manic episodes. METHODS Sixty inpatients with bipolar disorder in manic episodes were treated with spironolactone/placebo in an 8-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. They were evaluated using the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), mini-mental state examination (MMSE), Pittsburgh sleep quality index, Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire, and body mass index in weeks 1, 4, and 8. RESULTS For cognitive impairment (MMSE), there were significant interaction effects of group and time at week 8 (B = -1.60, SE = 0.69, t = -2.33, p = .021) such that individuals in the spironolactone group experienced more improvement in their cognitive performance. For manic symptoms (YMRS), there were no significant interaction effects of group and time at week 8 (B = -2.53, SE = 1.46, t = -1.73, p = .085). CONCLUSIONS Considering the promising findings in this clinical trial, further study of spironolactone as adjunctive therapy in bipolar disorder in manic episodes with larger sample sizes, multicenter settings, and longer follow-ups are recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atefeh Zandifar
- Social Determinants of Health Research CenterAlborz University of Medical SciencesKarajIran
- Department of Psychiatry, Imam Hossein Hospital, School of MedicineAlborz University of Medical SciencesKarajIran
| | - Rahim Badrfam
- Department of Psychiatry, Imam Hossein Hospital, School of MedicineAlborz University of Medical SciencesKarajIran
| | | | - Arman Shafiee
- Clinical Research Development UnitAlborz University of Medical SciencesKarajIran
- Student Research Committee, School of MedicineAlborz University of Medical SciencesKarajIran
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Kanes SJ, Dennie L, Perera P. Targeting the Arginine Vasopressin V 1b Receptor System and Stress Response in Depression and Other Neuropsychiatric Disorders. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2023; 19:811-828. [PMID: 37077711 PMCID: PMC10106826 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s402831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023] Open
Abstract
A healthy stress response is critical for good mental and overall health and promotes neuronal growth and adaptation, but the intricately balanced biological mechanisms that facilitate a stress response can also result in predisposition to disease when that equilibrium is disrupted. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis neuroendocrine system plays a critical role in the body's response and adaptation to stress, and vasopressinergic regulation of the HPA axis is critical to maintaining system responsiveness during chronic stress. However, exposure to repeated or excessive physical or emotional stress or trauma can shift the body's stress response equilibrium to a "new normal" underpinned by enduring changes in HPA axis function. Exposure to early life stress due to adverse childhood experiences can also lead to lasting neurobiological changes, including in HPA axis function. HPA axis impairment in patients with depression is considered among the most reliable findings in biological psychiatry, and chronic stress has been shown to play a major role in the pathogenesis and onset of depression and other neuropsychiatric disorders. Modulating HPA axis activity, for example via targeted antagonism of the vasopressin V1b receptor, is a promising approach for patients with depression and other neuropsychiatric disorders associated with HPA axis impairment. Despite favorable preclinical indications in animal models, demonstration of clinical efficacy for the treatment of depressive disorders by targeting HPA axis dysfunction has been challenging, possibly due to the heterogeneity and syndromal nature of depressive disorders. Measures of HPA axis function, such as elevated cortisol levels, may be useful biomarkers for identifying patients who may benefit from treatments that modulate HPA axis activity. Utilizing clinical biomarkers to identify subsets of patients with impaired HPA axis function who may benefit is a promising next step in fine-tuning HPA axis activity via targeted antagonism of the V1b receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen J Kanes
- EmbarkNeuro, Oakland, CA, USA
- Correspondence: Stephen J Kanes, EmbarkNeuro, Inc, 1111 Broadway, Suite 1300, Oakland, CA, 94607, USA, Tel +1 610 757 7821, Email
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