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Carriello MA, Costa DFB, Alvim PHP, Pestana MC, Bicudo DDS, Gomes EMP, Coelho TA, Biava PJ, Berlitz VG, Bianchini AJ, Shiokawa A, Shiokawa N, Sato MT, Massuda R. Retinal layers and symptoms and inflammation in schizophrenia. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2024; 274:1115-1124. [PMID: 36928482 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-023-01583-0] [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: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/26/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects brain structure and function. The retina, as well as the brain, consists of neuronal and glial cells packed in layers. Cortical volume and brain thickness are associated with inflammatory biomarkers, however, no study has been performed associating inflammatory biomarkers and retina in schizophrenia. our study aims to compare the retinal macular thickness and volume and peripapillary thickness in patients with schizophrenia and controls, and associate it to symptoms of schizophrenia, to interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C Reactive Protein (CRP) levels. Optical coherence tomography was performed to assess retinal layer thickness and volume, and CRP and IL-6 levels were measured in patients with schizophrenia and controls. Positive, negative, and general symptoms of schizophrenia were measured with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). A linear regression controlling for confounding factors was performed. 70 subjects were included, 35 patients, and 35 controls matched for sex and age. Patients with schizophrenia presented a significantly lower macular volume (p < 0.05) and thickness (< 0.05) than controls. PANSS positive, general and total scores were associated with retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness (p < 0.05). There was no association between inflammatory markers (CRP and IL-6) levels and the retinal layer. A reduction in macular volume and thickness was found in patients with schizophrenia. The severity of schizophrenia symptoms was associated with RNFL thickness. CRP and IL-6 are not associated with retinal thickness/volume in schizophrenia or controls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo Alves Carriello
- Psychotic Disorders Research Program, Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal Do Paraná-UFPR, Curitiba, Brazil.
| | - Diogo F Bornancin Costa
- Psychotic Disorders Research Program, Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal Do Paraná-UFPR, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Pedro Henrique Pereira Alvim
- Psychotic Disorders Research Program, Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal Do Paraná-UFPR, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Mariana Camargo Pestana
- Psychotic Disorders Research Program, Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal Do Paraná-UFPR, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Duana Dos Santos Bicudo
- Psychotic Disorders Research Program, Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal Do Paraná-UFPR, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Eloisa Maria Pontarolo Gomes
- Psychotic Disorders Research Program, Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal Do Paraná-UFPR, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Tamires Amelotti Coelho
- Psychotic Disorders Research Program, Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal Do Paraná-UFPR, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Patrick Junior Biava
- Psychotic Disorders Research Program, Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal Do Paraná-UFPR, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Vitória Gabriela Berlitz
- Psychotic Disorders Research Program, Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal Do Paraná-UFPR, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Ana J Bianchini
- Psychotic Disorders Research Program, Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal Do Paraná-UFPR, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Aline Shiokawa
- Retina and Vitreous Ophthalmology-Curitiba, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Naoye Shiokawa
- Retina and Vitreous Ophthalmology-Curitiba, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Mario Teruo Sato
- Retina and Vitreous Ophthalmology-Curitiba, Curitiba, Brazil
- Department of Ophthalmology, Universidade Federal Do Paraná-UFPR, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Raffael Massuda
- Psychotic Disorders Research Program, Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal Do Paraná-UFPR, Curitiba, Brazil
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2
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Misiak B, Frydecka D, Piotrowski P, Rembacz K, Bielawski T, Samochowiec J, Tyburski E, Łaczmański Ł, Pawlak E. Coping styles do not interact with the association between childhood trauma history and the immune-inflammatory phenotype of schizophrenia: Findings from a cross-sectional study. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2024; 166:107062. [PMID: 38678733 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2024.107062] [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: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are a well-known risk factor of schizophrenia. Moreover, individuals with schizophrenia are likely to use maladaptive stress coping strategies. Although it has been reported that a history of ACEs might be associated with a pro-inflammatory phenotype in patients with schizophrenia, the interacting effect of coping styles on this association has not been tested so far. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the levels of immune-inflammatory markers in patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls (HCs), taking into consideration a history of ACEs and coping strategies. Participants included 119 patients with schizophrenia and 120 HCs. Serum levels of 26 immune-inflammatory markers were determined. A history of any categories of ACEs was significantly more frequent in patients with schizophrenia. Moreover, patients with schizophrenia were significantly more likely to use emotion-focused coping and less likely to use active coping strategies compared to HCs. The levels of interleukin(IL)-6, RANTES, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), appeared to be elevated in patients with schizophrenia after adjustment for potential confounding factors in all tested models. Participants reporting a history of any ACEs had significantly higher levels of TNF-α and IL-6. No significant main and interactive effects of active strategies as the predominant coping on immune-inflammatory markers with altered levels in patients with schizophrenia were found. Findings from the present study indicate that ACEs are associated with elevated TNF-α and IL-6 levels regardless of schizophrenia diagnosis and predominant coping styles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Błażej Misiak
- Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland.
| | - Dorota Frydecka
- Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Patryk Piotrowski
- Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Rembacz
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Department of Experimental Therapy, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Tomasz Bielawski
- Department of Psychiatry, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Jerzy Samochowiec
- Department of Psychiatry, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland
| | - Ernest Tyburski
- Department of Psychiatry, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland
| | - Łukasz Łaczmański
- Laboratory of Genomics & Bioinformatics, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Edyta Pawlak
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Department of Experimental Therapy, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland
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Oliver D, Chesney E, Cullen AE, Davies C, Englund A, Gifford G, Kerins S, Lalousis PA, Logeswaran Y, Merritt K, Zahid U, Crossley NA, McCutcheon RA, McGuire P, Fusar-Poli P. Exploring causal mechanisms of psychosis risk. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 162:105699. [PMID: 38710421 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105699] [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: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 02/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Robust epidemiological evidence of risk and protective factors for psychosis is essential to inform preventive interventions. Previous evidence syntheses have classified these risk and protective factors according to their strength of association with psychosis. In this critical review we appraise the distinct and overlapping mechanisms of 25 key environmental risk factors for psychosis, and link these to mechanistic pathways that may contribute to neurochemical alterations hypothesised to underlie psychotic symptoms. We then discuss the implications of our findings for future research, specifically considering interactions between factors, exploring universal and subgroup-specific factors, improving understanding of temporality and risk dynamics, standardising operationalisation and measurement of risk and protective factors, and developing preventive interventions targeting risk and protective factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominic Oliver
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK; OPEN Early Detection Service, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK; Early Psychosis: Interventions and Clinical-Detection (EPIC) Lab, Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
| | - Edward Chesney
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; Addictions Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, 4 Windsor Walk, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Alexis E Cullen
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
| | - Cathy Davies
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Amir Englund
- Addictions Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, 4 Windsor Walk, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - George Gifford
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Sarah Kerins
- Early Psychosis: Interventions and Clinical-Detection (EPIC) Lab, Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Paris Alexandros Lalousis
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilian-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Yanakan Logeswaran
- Early Psychosis: Interventions and Clinical-Detection (EPIC) Lab, Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; Department of Biostatistics & Health Informatics, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Kate Merritt
- Division of Psychiatry, Institute of Mental Health, UCL, London, UK
| | - Uzma Zahid
- Department of Psychology, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Nicolas A Crossley
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile
| | - Robert A McCutcheon
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - Philip McGuire
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK; OPEN Early Detection Service, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - Paolo Fusar-Poli
- Early Psychosis: Interventions and Clinical-Detection (EPIC) Lab, Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilian-University Munich, Munich, Germany; Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy; OASIS Service, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London SE11 5DL, UK
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4
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Facal F, Arrojo M, Páramo M, Costas J. Association between psychiatric admissions in patients with schizophrenia and IL-6 plasma levels polygenic score. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2024:10.1007/s00406-024-01786-z. [PMID: 38492051 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-024-01786-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
Schizophrenia diagnosis and admission history were associated with a polygenic score (PGS) for schizophrenia based on a subset of variants that act by modifying the expression of genes whose expression is also modified by antipsychotics. This gene set was enriched in cytokine production. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is the only cytokine whose plasma levels were associated both with schizophrenia diagnosis and with acute decompensations in the largest meta-analysis. Therefore, we hypothesized that an IL-6 PGS, but not other cytokines PGSs, would be associated with schizophrenia chronicity/psychiatric admissions. Using the IL-6 PGS model from The PGS Catalog, IL-6 PGS was calculated in 427 patients with schizophrenia and data regarding admission history. Association between IL-6 PGS and chronicity, measured as number and duration of psychiatric admissions, or ever readmission was analyzed by multivariate ordinal and logistic regression, respectively. Specificity of results was assessed by analysis of PGSs from the other cytokines at The PGS Catalog with meta-analytic evidence of association with schizophrenia diagnosis or acute decompensations, IL-1RA, IL-4, IL-8, and IL-12. IL-6 PGS was associated with schizophrenia chronicity, explaining 1.51% of variability (OR = 1.29, 95% CI 1.07-1.55, P = 0.007). There was no association with ever readmission. Other cytokines PGSs were not associated with chronicity. Association with IL-6 PGS was independent of association with schizophrenia PGS. Our results provide evidence that genetically regulated higher levels of IL-6 are involved in schizophrenia chronicity, highlighting the relevance of immunity processes for a subgroup of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Facal
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria (IDIS) de Santiago de Compostela, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela (CHUS), Servizo Galego de Saúde (SERGAS), Hospital Clínico Universitario, edificio Consultas, Andar-2, 15706, Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain.
- Servizo de Psiquiatría, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, Servizo Galego de Saúde (SERGAS), Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain.
| | - Manuel Arrojo
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria (IDIS) de Santiago de Compostela, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela (CHUS), Servizo Galego de Saúde (SERGAS), Hospital Clínico Universitario, edificio Consultas, Andar-2, 15706, Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain
- Servizo de Psiquiatría, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, Servizo Galego de Saúde (SERGAS), Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain
| | - Mario Páramo
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria (IDIS) de Santiago de Compostela, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela (CHUS), Servizo Galego de Saúde (SERGAS), Hospital Clínico Universitario, edificio Consultas, Andar-2, 15706, Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain
- Servizo de Psiquiatría, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, Servizo Galego de Saúde (SERGAS), Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain
| | - Javier Costas
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria (IDIS) de Santiago de Compostela, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela (CHUS), Servizo Galego de Saúde (SERGAS), Hospital Clínico Universitario, edificio Consultas, Andar-2, 15706, Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain
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5
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Chaves C, Dursun SM, Tusconi M, Hallak JEC. Neuroinflammation and schizophrenia - is there a link? Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1356975. [PMID: 38389990 PMCID: PMC10881867 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1356975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Cristiano Chaves
- NeuroMood Lab, School of Medicine and Kingston Health Sciences Center (KHSC), Department of Psychiatry, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
- Department of Neuroscience and Behavior, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- National Institute for Translational Medicine (INCT-TM), CNPq, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Serdar M Dursun
- National Institute for Translational Medicine (INCT-TM), CNPq, São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Psychiatry (Neurochemical Research Unit) and Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Massimo Tusconi
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Jaime E C Hallak
- Department of Neuroscience and Behavior, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- National Institute for Translational Medicine (INCT-TM), CNPq, São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Psychiatry (Neurochemical Research Unit) and Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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6
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Cullen AE, Labad J, Oliver D, Al-Diwani A, Minichino A, Fusar-Poli P. The Translational Future of Stress Neurobiology and Psychosis Vulnerability: A Review of the Evidence. Curr Neuropharmacol 2024; 22:350-377. [PMID: 36946486 PMCID: PMC10845079 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x21666230322145049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Psychosocial stress is a well-established risk factor for psychosis, yet the neurobiological mechanisms underlying this relationship have yet to be fully elucidated. Much of the research in this field has investigated hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function and immuno-inflammatory processes among individuals with established psychotic disorders. However, as such studies are limited in their ability to provide knowledge that can be used to develop preventative interventions, it is important to shift the focus to individuals with increased vulnerability for psychosis (i.e., high-risk groups). In the present article, we provide an overview of the current methods for identifying individuals at high-risk for psychosis and review the psychosocial stressors that have been most consistently associated with psychosis risk. We then describe a network of interacting physiological systems that are hypothesised to mediate the relationship between psychosocial stress and the manifestation of psychotic illness and critically review evidence that abnormalities within these systems characterise highrisk populations. We found that studies of high-risk groups have yielded highly variable findings, likely due to (i) the heterogeneity both within and across high-risk samples, (ii) the diversity of psychosocial stressors implicated in psychosis, and (iii) that most studies examine single markers of isolated neurobiological systems. We propose that to move the field forward, we require well-designed, largescale translational studies that integrate multi-domain, putative stress-related biomarkers to determine their prognostic value in high-risk samples. We advocate that such investigations are highly warranted, given that psychosocial stress is undoubtedly a relevant risk factor for psychotic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis E. Cullen
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, United Kingdom
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Insurance Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Javier Labad
- CIBERSAM, Sabadell, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Mental Health and Addictions, Consorci Sanitari del Maresme, Mataró, Spain
| | - Dominic Oliver
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Early Psychosis: Interventions and Clinical-Detection (EPIC) Lab, Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, United Kingdom
| | - Adam Al-Diwani
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Amedeo Minichino
- Early Psychosis: Interventions and Clinical-Detection (EPIC) Lab, Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, United Kingdom
| | - Paolo Fusar-Poli
- Early Psychosis: Interventions and Clinical-Detection (EPIC) Lab, Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, United Kingdom
- Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- OASIS Service, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
- National Institute of Health Research Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
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7
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Savitz J, Goeckner BD, Ford BN, Kent Teague T, Zheng H, Harezlak J, Mannix R, Tugan Muftuler L, Brett BL, McCrea MA, Meier TB. The effects of cytomegalovirus on brain structure following sport-related concussion. Brain 2023; 146:4262-4273. [PMID: 37070698 PMCID: PMC10545519 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awad126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The neurotrophic herpes virus cytomegalovirus is a known cause of neuropathology in utero and in immunocompromised populations. Cytomegalovirus is reactivated by stress and inflammation, possibly explaining the emerging evidence linking it to subtle brain changes in the context of more minor disturbances of immune function. Even mild forms of traumatic brain injury, including sport-related concussion, are major physiological stressors that produce neuroinflammation. In theory, concussion could predispose to the reactivation of cytomegalovirus and amplify the effects of physical injury on brain structure. However, to our knowledge this hypothesis remains untested. This study evaluated the effect of cytomegalovirus serostatus on white and grey matter structure in a prospective study of athletes with concussion and matched contact-sport controls. Athletes who sustained concussion (n = 88) completed MRI at 1, 8, 15 and 45 days post-injury; matched uninjured athletes (n = 73) completed similar visits. Cytomegalovirus serostatus was determined by measuring serum IgG antibodies (n = 30 concussed athletes and n = 21 controls were seropositive). Inverse probability of treatment weighting was used to adjust for confounding factors between athletes with and without cytomegalovirus. White matter microstructure was assessed using diffusion kurtosis imaging metrics in regions previously shown to be sensitive to concussion. T1-weighted images were used to quantify mean cortical thickness and total surface area. Concussion-related symptoms, psychological distress, and serum concentration of C-reactive protein at 1 day post-injury were included as exploratory outcomes. Planned contrasts compared the effects of cytomegalovirus seropositivity in athletes with concussion and controls, separately. There was a significant effect of cytomegalovirus on axial and radial kurtosis in athletes with concussion but not controls. Cytomegalovirus positive athletes with concussion showed greater axial (P = 0.007, d = 0.44) and radial (P = 0.010, d = 0.41) kurtosis than cytomegalovirus negative athletes with concussion. Similarly, there was a significant association of cytomegalovirus with cortical thickness in athletes with concussion but not controls. Cytomegalovirus positive athletes with concussion had reduced mean cortical thickness of the right hemisphere (P = 0.009, d = 0.42) compared with cytomegalovirus negative athletes with concussion and showed a similar trend for the left hemisphere (P = 0.036, d = 0.33). There was no significant effect of cytomegalovirus on kurtosis fractional anisotropy, surface area, symptoms and C-reactive protein. The results raise the possibility that cytomegalovirus infection contributes to structural brain abnormalities in the aftermath of concussion perhaps via an amplification of concussion-associated neuroinflammation. More work is needed to identify the biological pathways underlying this process and to clarify the clinical relevance of this putative viral effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Savitz
- Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, OK 74136, USA
- Oxley College of Health Sciences, The University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK 74119, USA
| | - Bryna D Goeckner
- Department of Biophysics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Bart N Ford
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, OK 74107, USA
| | - T Kent Teague
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine, Tulsa, OK 74135, USA
- Department of Surgery, The University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine, Tulsa, OK 74135, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy, Tulsa, OK 74135, USA
| | - Haixia Zheng
- Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa, OK 74136, USA
| | - Jaroslaw Harezlak
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health-Bloomington, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Rebekah Mannix
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - L Tugan Muftuler
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Benjamin L Brett
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
- Department of Neurology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Michael A McCrea
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
- Department of Neurology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Timothy B Meier
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
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Llorca-Bofí V, Bioque M, Font M, Gich I, Mur M. Correlation between C-reactive protein and the inflammatory ratios in acute schizophrenia inpatients: are they associated? J Psychiatr Res 2023; 165:191-196. [PMID: 37515951 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.07.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
C-reactive protein (CRP) and inflammatory ratios have been proposed to study immune dysregulation in schizophrenia. Nevertheless, links between CRP and inflammatory ratios in acute SCZ inpatients have been understudied. This study investigated the relationship between CRP and inflammatory ratios (Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio [NRL], Platelet-Lymphocyte Ratio [PLR], Monocyte-Lymphocyte ratio [MLR] and Basophil-Lymphocyte Ratio [BLR]) in a total of 698 acute SCZ inpatients; and analysed how this relationship is affected by sex and type of episode. CRP correlated with NLR (rs = 0.338, p < 0.001), PLR (rs = 0.271, p < 0.001) and MLR (rs = 0.148, p < 0.001) but not with BLR (rs = 0.059, p = 0.121). Multiple lineal regression analysis showed that high levels of NLR, MLR and PLR but not BLR were independently associated with high CRP levels. No sex-related variations were found. Significant associations were maintained for NLR and MLR in first-episode and multiepisode SCZ, although the strength of the association was stronger in multiepisode SCZ. Again, no sex-related differences were found in these associations. In conclusion, inflammatory ratios were low to moderately associated with CRP in acute SCZ inpatients. NLR and multiepisode SCZ showed the highest associations with CRP. Future studies should consider inflammatory ratios not as a substitute for CRP but as a complementary biomarker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vicent Llorca-Bofí
- Department of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Psychiatry, Santa Maria University Hospital Lleida, Lleida, Spain; Institut de Recerca Biomèdica de Lleida (IRBLleida), Spain
| | - Miquel Bioque
- Department of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Barcelona Clínic Schizophrenia Unit (BCSU), Neuroscience Institute, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, CIBERSAM, IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Font
- Laboratory Department, Arnau de Vilanova University Hospital, Lleida, Spain
| | - Ignasi Gich
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Public Health, HSCSP, Sant Pau Biomedical Research Institute (IIB Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Mur
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Universitat de Lleida, Spain; Department of Psychiatry, Santa Maria University Hospital Lleida, Lleida, Spain; Institut de Recerca Biomèdica de Lleida (IRBLleida), Spain.
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9
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Fenn-Moltu S, Deakin B, Drake R, Howes OD, Lawrie SM, Lewis S, Nikkheslat N, Walters JTR, MacCabe JH, Mondelli V, Egerton A. The association between peripheral inflammation, brain glutamate and antipsychotic response in Schizophrenia: Data from the STRATA collaboration. Brain Behav Immun 2023; 111:343-351. [PMID: 37182555 PMCID: PMC7615624 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.05.005] [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: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Glutamate and increased inflammation have been separately implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and the extent of clinical response to antipsychotic treatment. Despite the mechanistic links between pro-inflammatory and glutamatergic pathways, the relationships between peripheral inflammatory markers and brain glutamate in schizophrenia have not yet been investigated. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that peripheral levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines would be positively associated with brain glutamate levels in schizophrenia. Secondary analyses determined whether this relationship differed according to antipsychotic treatment response. The sample consisted of 79 patients with schizophrenia, of whom 40 were rated as antipsychotic responders and 39 as antipsychotic non-responders. Brain glutamate levels were assessed in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and caudate using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) and blood samples were collected for cytokine assay on the same study visit (IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF- α and IFN-γ). Across the whole patient sample, there was a positive relationship between interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and caudate glutamate levels (r = 0.31, p = 0.02). In the antipsychotic non-responsive group only, there was a positive relationship between interleukin-8 (IL-8) and caudate glutamate (r = 0.46, p = 0.01). These findings provide evidence to link specific peripheral inflammatory markers and caudate glutamate in schizophrenia and may suggest that this relationship is most marked in patients who show a poor response to antipsychotic treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunniva Fenn-Moltu
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK.
| | - Bill Deakin
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Richard Drake
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Oliver D Howes
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Mental Health Biomedical Research Centre, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, King's College London, London, UK; Psychiatric Imaging Group, MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK
| | | | - Shôn Lewis
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Naghmeh Nikkheslat
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - James T R Walters
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - James H MacCabe
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Mental Health Biomedical Research Centre, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Valeria Mondelli
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Mental Health Biomedical Research Centre, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, King's College London, London, UK; Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Alice Egerton
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Mental Health Biomedical Research Centre, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, King's College London, London, UK
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10
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Kohler CG, Wolf DH, Abi-Dargham A, Anticevic A, Cho YT, Fonteneau C, Gil R, Girgis RR, Gray DL, Grinband J, Javitch JA, Kantrowitz JT, Krystal JH, Lieberman JA, Murray JD, Ranganathan M, Santamauro N, Van Snellenberg JX, Tamayo Z, Gur RC, Gur RE, Calkins ME. Illness Phase as a Key Assessment and Intervention Window for Psychosis. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY GLOBAL OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 3:340-350. [PMID: 37519466 PMCID: PMC10382701 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2022.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The phenotype of schizophrenia, regardless of etiology, represents the most studied psychotic disorder with respect to neurobiology and distinct phases of illness. The early phase of illness represents a unique opportunity to provide effective and individualized interventions that can alter illness trajectories. Developmental age and illness stage, including temporal variation in neurobiology, can be targeted to develop phase-specific clinical assessment, biomarkers, and interventions. We review an earlier model whereby an initial glutamate signaling deficit progresses through different phases of allostatic adaptation, moving from potentially reversible functional abnormalities associated with early psychosis and working memory dysfunction, and ending with difficult-to-reverse structural changes after chronic illness. We integrate this model with evidence of dopaminergic abnormalities, including cortical D1 dysfunction, which develop during adolescence. We discuss how this model and a focus on a potential critical window of intervention in the early stages of schizophrenia impact the approach to research design and clinical care. This impact includes stage-specific considerations for symptom assessment as well as genetic, cognitive, and neurophysiological biomarkers. We examine how phase-specific biomarkers of illness phase and brain development can be incorporated into current strategies for large-scale research and clinical programs implementing coordinated specialty care. We highlight working memory and D1 dysfunction as early treatment targets that can substantially affect functional outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian G. Kohler
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Daniel H. Wolf
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Anissa Abi-Dargham
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook
| | - Alan Anticevic
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Youngsun T. Cho
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
- Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Clara Fonteneau
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Roberto Gil
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook
| | - Ragy R. Girgis
- Departments of Psychiatry, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York
| | - David L. Gray
- Cerevel Therapeutics Research and Development, East Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Jack Grinband
- Departments of Psychiatry, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York
| | - Jonathan A. Javitch
- Departments of Psychiatry, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York
- Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York
- Division of Molecular Therapeutics, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York
| | - Joshua T. Kantrowitz
- Departments of Psychiatry, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York
- New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York
- Nathan Kline Institute, Orangeburg, New York
| | - John H. Krystal
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Jeffrey A. Lieberman
- Departments of Psychiatry, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York
| | - John D. Murray
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Mohini Ranganathan
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Nicole Santamauro
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Jared X. Van Snellenberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook
| | - Zailyn Tamayo
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Ruben C. Gur
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Raquel E. Gur
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Monica E. Calkins
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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11
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Foley ÉM, Griffiths SL, Murray A, Rogers J, Corsi-Zuelli F, Hickinbotham H, Warwick E, Wilson M, Kaser M, Murray GK, Deakin B, Jadon D, Suckling J, Barnes NM, Upthegrove R, Khandaker GM. Protocol for the Psychosis Immune Mechanism Stratified Medicine (PIMS) trial: a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial of single-dose tocilizumab in patients with psychosis. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e067944. [PMID: 36963796 PMCID: PMC10040013 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-067944] [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: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Evidence suggests a potentially causal role of interleukin 6 (IL-6), a pleiotropic cytokine that generally promotes inflammation, in the pathogenesis of psychosis. However, no interventional studies in patients with psychosis, stratified using inflammatory markers, have been conducted to assess the therapeutic potential of targeting IL-6 in psychosis and to elucidate potential mechanism of effect. Tocilizumab is a humanised monoclonal antibody targeting the IL-6 receptor to inhibit IL-6 signalling, licensed in the UK for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The primary objective of this study is to test whether IL-6 contributes to the pathogenesis of first episode psychosis and to examine potential mechanisms by which IL-6 affects psychotic symptoms. A secondary objective is to examine characteristics of inflammation-associated psychosis. METHODS AND ANALYSIS A proof-of-concept study employing a randomised, parallel-group, double-blind, placebo-controlled design testing the effect of IL-6 inhibition on anhedonia in patients with psychosis. Approximately 60 participants with a diagnosis of schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders (ICD-10 codes F20, F22, F25, F28, F29) with evidence of low-grade inflammation (IL-6≥0.7 pg/mL) will receive either one intravenous infusion of tocilizumab (4.0 mg/kg; max 800 mg) or normal saline. Psychiatric measures and blood samples will be collected at baseline, 7, 14 and 28 days post infusion. Cognitive and neuroimaging data will be collected at baseline and 14 days post infusion. In addition, approximately 30 patients with psychosis without evidence of inflammation (IL-6<0.7 pg/mL) and 30 matched healthy controls will be recruited to complete identical baseline assessments to allow for comparison of the characteristic features of inflammation-associated psychosis. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION The study is sponsored by the University of Bristol and has been approved by the Cambridge East Research Ethics Committee (reference: 22/EE/0010; IRAS project ID: 301682). Study findings will be published in peer-review journals. Findings will also be disseminated by scientific presentation and other means. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER ISRCTN23256704.
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Affiliation(s)
- Éimear M Foley
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Centre for Academic Mental Health, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Sian Lowri Griffiths
- Institute for Mental Health and Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Alexander Murray
- Institute for Mental Health and Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Jack Rogers
- Institute for Mental Health and Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Fabiana Corsi-Zuelli
- Institute for Mental Health and Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Department of Neuroscience and Behaviour, Division of Psychiatry, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | | | - Ella Warwick
- Institute for Mental Health and Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Martin Wilson
- Institute for Mental Health and Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Muzaffer Kaser
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Fulbourn, UK
| | - Graham K Murray
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Fulbourn, UK
| | - Bill Deakin
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Deepak Jadon
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - John Suckling
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Fulbourn, UK
| | - Nicholas M Barnes
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Rachel Upthegrove
- Institute for Mental Health and Centre for Human Brain Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Early Intervention Service, Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK
| | - Golam M Khandaker
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Centre for Academic Mental Health, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- National Institute for Health and Care Research, Bristol Biomedical Research Centre, Bristol, UK
- Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust, Bristol, UK
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12
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Goldsmith DR, Bekhbat M, Mehta ND, Felger JC. Inflammation-Related Functional and Structural Dysconnectivity as a Pathway to Psychopathology. Biol Psychiatry 2023; 93:405-418. [PMID: 36725140 PMCID: PMC9895884 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2022.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Findings from numerous laboratories and across neuroimaging modalities have consistently shown that exogenous administration of cytokines or inflammatory stimuli that induce cytokines disrupts circuits and networks involved in motivation and motor activity, threat detection, anxiety, and interoceptive and emotional processing. While inflammatory effects on neural circuits and relevant behaviors may represent adaptive responses promoting conservation of energy and heightened vigilance during immune activation, chronically elevated inflammation may contribute to symptoms of psychiatric illnesses. Indeed, biomarkers of inflammation such as cytokines and acute phase reactants are reliably elevated in a subset of patients with unipolar or bipolar depression, anxiety-related disorders, and schizophrenia and have been associated with differential treatment responses and poor clinical outcomes. A growing body of literature also describes higher levels of endogenous inflammatory markers and altered, typically lower functional or structural connectivity within these circuits in association with transdiagnostic symptoms such as anhedonia and anxiety in psychiatric and at-risk populations. This review presents recent evidence that inflammation and its effects on the brain may serve as one molecular and cellular mechanism of dysconnectivity within anatomically and/or functionally connected cortical and subcortical regions in association with transdiagnostic symptoms. We also discuss the need to establish reproducible methods to assess inflammation-associated dysconnectivity in relation to behavior for use in translational studies or biomarker-driven clinical trials for novel pharmacological or behavioral interventions targeting inflammation or its effects on the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- David R Goldsmith
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Mandakh Bekhbat
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Neeti D Mehta
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia; Neuroscience Graduate Program, Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Jennifer C Felger
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia; Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.
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13
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Matrisciano F, Pinna G. The Strategy of Targeting Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor (PPAR) in the Treatment of Neuropsychiatric Disorders. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2023; 1411:513-535. [PMID: 36949324 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-19-7376-5_22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/24/2023]
Abstract
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are nonsteroid nuclear receptors and transcription factors that regulate several neuroinflammatory and metabolic processes, recently involved in several neuropsychiatric conditions, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, major depressive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia spectrum disorders, and autism spectrum disorders. PPARs are ligand-activated receptors that, following stimulation, induce neuroprotective effects by decreasing neuroinflammatory processes through inhibition of the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cell (NF-κB) expression and consequent suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokine production. PPARs heterodimerize with the retinoid X-receptor (RXR) and bind to PPAR-responsive regulatory elements (PPRE) in the promoter region of target genes involved in lipid metabolism, synthesis of cholesterol, catabolism of amino acids, and inflammation. Interestingly, PPARs are considered functionally part of the extended endocannabinoid (eCB) system that includes the classic eCB, anandamide, which act at cannabinoid receptor types 1 (CB1) and 2 (CB2) and are implicated in the pathophysiology of stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders. In preclinical studies, PPAR stimulation improves anxiety and depression-like behaviors by enhancing neurosteroid biosynthesis. The peculiar functional role of PPARs by exerting anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects and their expression localization in neurons and glial cells of corticolimbic circuits make them particularly interesting as novel therapeutic targets for several neuropsychiatric disorders characterized by underlying neuroinflammatory/neurodegenerative mechanisms. Herein, we discuss the pathological hallmarks of neuropsychiatric conditions associated with neuroinflammation, as well as the pivotal role of PPARs with a special emphasis on the subtype alpha (PPAR-α) as a suitable molecular target for therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Matrisciano
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, The Psychiatric Institute, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Graziano Pinna
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, The Psychiatric Institute, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
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14
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McGuigan BN, Santini T, Keshavan MS, Prasad KM. Gene Expressions Preferentially Influence Cortical Thickness of Human Connectome Project Atlas Parcellated Regions in First-Episode Antipsychotic-Naïve Psychoses. SCHIZOPHRENIA BULLETIN OPEN 2023; 4:sgad019. [PMID: 37621304 PMCID: PMC10445951 DOI: 10.1093/schizbullopen/sgad019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
Altered gene expressions may mechanistically link genetic factors with brain morphometric alterations. Existing gene expression studies have examined selected morphometric features using low-resolution atlases in medicated schizophrenia. We examined the relationship of gene expression with cortical thickness (CT), surface area (SA), and gray matter volume (GMV) of first-episode antipsychotic-naïve psychosis patients (FEAP = 85) and 81 controls, hypothesizing that gene expressions often associated with psychosis will differentially associate with different morphometric features. We explored such associations among schizophrenia and non-schizophrenia subgroups within FEAP group compared to controls. We mapped 360 Human Connectome Project atlas-based parcellations on brain MRI on to the publicly available brain gene expression data from the Allen Brain Institute collection. Significantly correlated genes were investigated using ingenuity pathway analysis to elucidate molecular pathways. CT but not SA or GMV correlated with expression of 1137 out of 15 633 genes examined controlling for age, sex, and average CT. Among these ≈19%, ≈39%, and 8% of genes were unique to FEAP, schizophrenia, and non-schizophrenia, respectively. Variants of 10 among these 1137 correlated genes previously showed genome-wide-association with schizophrenia. Molecular pathways associated with CT were axonal guidance and sphingosine pathways (common to FEAP and controls), selected inflammation pathways (unique to FEAP), synaptic modulation (unique to schizophrenia), and telomere extension (common to NSZ and healthy controls). We demonstrate that different sets of genes and molecular pathways may preferentially influence CT in different diagnostic groups. Genes with altered expressions correlating with CT and associated pathways may be targets for pathophysiological investigations and novel treatment designs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bridget N McGuigan
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Tales Santini
- University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Matcheri S Keshavan
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Konasale M Prasad
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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15
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Strube W, Aksar A, Bauer I, Barbosa S, Benros M, Blankenstein C, Campana M, Davidovic L, Glaichenhaus N, Falkai P, Görlitz T, Hansbauer M, Heilig D, Khalfallah O, Leboyer M, Martinuzzi E, Mayer S, Moussiopoulou J, Papazova I, Perić N, Wagner E, Schneider-Axmann T, Simon J, Hasan A. Effects of add-on Celecoxib treatment on patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders and inflammatory cytokine profile trial (TargetFlame): study design and methodology of a multicentre randomized, placebo-controlled trial. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2022:10.1007/s00702-022-02566-6. [PMID: 36401749 PMCID: PMC10374797 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-022-02566-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
AbstractNeuroinflammation has been proposed to impact symptomatology in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. While previous studies have shown equivocal effects of treatments with add-on anti-inflammatory drugs such as Aspirin, N-acetylcysteine and Celecoxib, none have used a subset of prospectively recruited patients exhibiting an inflammatory profile. The aim of the study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety as well as the cost-effectiveness of a treatment with 400 mg Celecoxib added to an ongoing antipsychotic treatment in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders exhibiting an inflammatory profile. The “Add-on Celecoxib treatment in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders and inflammatory cytokine profile trial (TargetFlame)” is a multicentre randomized, placebo-controlled phase III investigator-initiated clinical trial with the following two arms: patients exhibiting an inflammatory profile receiving either add-on Celecoxib 400 mg/day or add-on placebo. A total of 199 patients will be assessed for eligibility by measuring blood levels of three pro-inflammatory cytokines, and 109 patients with an inflammatory profile, i.e. inflamed, will be randomized, treated for 8 weeks and followed-up for additional four months. The primary endpoint will be changes in symptom severity as assessed by total Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) score changes from baseline to week 8. Secondary endpoints include various other measures of psychopathology and safety. Additional health economic analyses will be performed. TargetFlame is the first study aimed at evaluating the efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness of the antiphlogistic agent Celecoxib in a subset of patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders exhibiting an inflammatory profile. With TargetFlame, we intended to investigate a novel precision medicine approach towards anti-inflammatory antipsychotic treatment augmentation using drug repurposing. Clinical trial registration:http://www.drks.de/DRKS00029044 and https://trialsearch.who.int/Trial2.aspx?TrialID=DRKS00029044
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16
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Fitton R, Sweetman J, Heseltine-Carp W, van der Feltz-Cornelis C. Anti-inflammatory medications for the treatment of mental disorders: A scoping review. Brain Behav Immun Health 2022; 26:100518. [PMID: 36217374 PMCID: PMC9547233 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2022.100518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
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17
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Plank AC, Maschke J, Rohleder N, Fasching PA, Beckmann MW, Kornhuber J, Eichler A, Moll GH, Kratz O. Comparison of C-Reactive Protein in Dried Blood Spots and Saliva of Healthy Adolescents. Front Immunol 2022; 12:795580. [PMID: 34975902 PMCID: PMC8716383 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.795580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background/Aim Determining C-reactive protein (CRP) by non-invasive methods is of great interest for research addressing inflammation in young people. However, direct comparisons of such methods applied in children and adolescents are lacking so far. This study aimed to evaluate the association between CRP measured in dried blood spots (DBS CRP) and in saliva (sCRP), two less invasive alternatives to venipuncture, in 12- to 14-year-old adolescents. To evaluate the validity of both measurements in the context of biobehavioral studies, the potential of DBS CRP and sCRP to discriminate between defined BMI subgroups was assessed. Materials and Methods CRP levels in DBS and saliva collected from 87 healthy adolescents (M = 13.25 years, SD = 0.30, 51.7% females) were determined using high sensitive CRP ELISA for serum and salivary CRP ELISA, respectively. Characteristics and correlation of both measurements were assessed for the total sample and for three subgroups classified by BMI percentile ranges (A: ≤ 25; B: 26–74; C: ≥ 75). Results In the total sample, DBS CRP and sCRP were significantly associated (r = 0.59, p < 0.001). Splitting the sample into BMI-dependent subgroups revealed similarly strong associations of DBS CRP with sCRP for all three groups (A: r = 0.51; B: r = 0.61; C: r = 0.53). However, comparing the mean CRP values per BMI subgroup, one-way ANOVA reported significant differences for DBS CRP, but not for sCRP mean values. Conclusions The significant correlation of DBS CRP with sCRP was independent of the investigated BMI range groups, yet BMI-dependent distinction was only provided by DBS CRP mean values. Overall, our results suggest that DBS CRP is likely to reflect systemic inflammation more precisely. Salivary CRP can be alternatively determined in studies with adolescents when conditions require it, given the oral health status is assessed. Considering that DBS CRP and sCRP share only 35% of common variance, further studies should examine their specific validity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Christine Plank
- Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Janina Maschke
- Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Nicolas Rohleder
- Department of Psychology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Peter A Fasching
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Matthias W Beckmann
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Johannes Kornhuber
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Anna Eichler
- Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Gunther H Moll
- Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Oliver Kratz
- Department of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
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18
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Brown M, Worrell C, Pariante CM. Inflammation and early life stress: An updated review of childhood trauma and inflammatory markers in adulthood. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2021; 211:173291. [PMID: 34695507 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2021.173291] [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] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 10/10/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Inflammation, as a neurobiological consequence of childhood trauma, has frequently been reported across research, however, recent investigations suggest this relationship may be dependent on specificities such as type of trauma, type of inflammatory marker, and additional mediatory variables - such as body mass index (BMI), age, and sex. As an updated version of a previous review by Baumeister et al., the current review comprised a search of PubMed, which identified 37 articles that collectively assessed 4 inflammatory markers (CRP, IL-6, TNFα and IL-1β). A review of the studies revealed predominantly non-significant associations between childhood trauma and elevated levels of all inflammatory markers in adulthood. However, in line with previous research, discrepancies in significance arose when considering type of trauma, type of inflammatory marker, and additional variables. Compared to neglect, abuse showed greater significant associations with elevated inflammatory markers in adulthood, though this was dependent on the individual subtypes (emotional, physical or sexual). Mediation analyses reported BMI as a significant mediator, though, when controlled for, no significant differences were found. Sex differences were reported but investigations were sparse. Future research should investigate the mediatory role of sex differences in the inflammatory effects of childhood trauma. Many studies in the review were restricted by use of the same trauma measure - the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. To assess greater variety of trauma types, future studies should utilize other standardized measures to explore these avenues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mollie Brown
- King's College London, Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London, UK.
| | - Courtney Worrell
- King's College London, Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London, UK.
| | - Carmine M Pariante
- King's College London, Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London, UK.
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Lombardo G, Mondelli V, Dazzan P, Pariante CM. Sex hormones and immune system: A possible interplay in affective disorders? A systematic review. J Affect Disord 2021; 290:1-14. [PMID: 33989924 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2021.04.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sex hormones and the immune system may play a key role in sex differences in affective disorders. The understanding of their interplay may lead to the detection of new sex-specific tailored therapeutic approaches. The aim of this systematic review is to summarise the evidence supporting a possible association between sex hormones and inflammatory biomarkers in people with affective disorders. METHODS A systematic search of the literature published until January 2021 was conducted on PubMed database. The initial search identified a total of 1259 studies; 20 studies investigating inflammatory biomarkers and sex hormones in patients exhibiting depressive symptoms were included: 10 studies focused on patients with affective disorders, and 10 studies focused on women in menopause or in the post-partum period exhibiting depressive symptoms. RESULTS Testosterone and exogenous female sex hormones may play protective roles through their modulation of the immune system, respectively, in male patients with bipolar disorder and in peri-/post-menopausal women with depression. LIMITATIONS The main limitations are the paucity of studies investigating both sex hormones and immune biomarkers, the lack of statistical analyses exploring specifically the association between these two classes of biomarkers, and the great heterogeneity between the participants' samples in the studies. CONCLUSION This review highlights the need to investigate the interplay between sex hormones and immune system in affective disorders. The inconsistent or incomplete evidence may be improved by studies in patients with moderate-high inflammatory levels that specifically evaluate the relationship between sex hormones and the immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Lombardo
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, UK.
| | - Valeria Mondelli
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, UK; National Institute for Health Research Mental Health Biomedical Research Centre, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and King's College London, London, UK
| | - Paola Dazzan
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, UK
| | - Carmine Maria Pariante
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, UK; National Institute for Health Research Mental Health Biomedical Research Centre, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and King's College London, London, UK
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