Large-scale evidence for an association between low-grade peripheral inflammation and brain structural alterations in major depression in the BiDirect study
BACKGROUND: Preliminary research suggests that major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with structural alterations in the brain, as well as with low-grade peripheral inflammation. However, even though a link between inflammatory processes and altered brain structural integrity has been purport...
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FB/Einrichtung: | FB 05: Medizinische Fakultät
FB 07: Psychologie und Sportwissenschaft |
Dokumenttypen: | Artikel |
Medientypen: | Text |
Erscheinungsdatum: | 2019 |
Publikation in MIAMI: | 06.07.2020 |
Datum der letzten Änderung: | 31.07.2020 |
Angaben zur Ausgabe: | [Electronic ed.] |
Fachgebiet (DDC): | 610: Medizin und Gesundheit |
Lizenz: | InC 1.0 |
Sprache: | English |
Anmerkungen: | Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience 44 (2019) 6, 423-431 |
Förderung: | Finanziert durch den Open-Access-Publikationsfonds der Westfälischen Wilhelms-Universität Münster (WWU Münster). This work was additionally funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG, grant FOR2107 DA1151/5-1 and DA1151/5-2 ; SFB-TRR58, Projects C09 and Z02) and the Interdisciplinary Center for Clinical Research (IZKF) of the medical faculty of Münster (grant Dan3/012/17 and SEED 11/18 to NO) and the Deanery of the Medical Faculty of the University of Münster. |
Format: | PDF-Dokument |
URN: | urn:nbn:de:hbz:6-00189435396 |
Weitere Identifikatoren: | DOI: 10.1503/jpn.180208 |
Permalink: | https://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:6-00189435396 |
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Onlinezugriff: | artikel_opel_2019.pdf |
BACKGROUND: Preliminary research suggests that major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with structural alterations in the brain, as well as with low-grade peripheral inflammation. However, even though a link between inflammatory processes and altered brain structural integrity has been purported by experimental research, well-powered studies to confirm this hypothesis in patients with MDD have been lacking. We aimed to investigate the potential association between structural brain alterations and low-grade inflammation as interrelated biological correlates of MDD. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 514 patients with MDD and 359 healthy controls underwent structural MRI. We used voxel-based morphometry to study local differences in grey matter volume. We also assessed serum levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) in each participant. RESULTS: Compared with healthy controls (age [mean ± standard deviation] 52.57 ± 7.94 yr; 50% male), patients with MDD (49.14 ± 7.28 yr, 39% male) exhibited significantly increased hsCRP levels (Z = −5.562, p < 0.001) and significantly decreased grey matter volume in the prefrontal cortex and the insula. Prefrontal grey matter volume reductions were significantly associated with higher hsCRP levels in patients with MDD (x = 50, y = 50, z = 8; t1,501 = 5.15; k = 92; pFWE < 0.001). In the MDD sample, the significant negative association between hsCRP and grey matter appeared independent of age, sex, body mass index, current smoking status, antidepressant load, hospitalization and medical comorbidities. LIMITATIONS: This study had a cross-sectional design. CONCLUSION: The present study highlights the role of reduced grey matter volume and low-grade peripheral inflammation as interrelated biological correlates of MDD. The reported inverse association between peripheral low-grade inflammation and brain structural integrity in patients with MDD translates current knowledge from experimental studies to the bedside.