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Díaz-Marsá M, Ayad-Ahmed W, López-Villatoro JM, Fernández-Rodrigues V, Ruiz-Guerrero F, Gómez Del Barrio A, Beato-Fernández L, Polo-Montes F, León-Velasco M, Torre-Luque ADL, Carrasco JL, Caso JR, MacDowell KS, Leza JC. Inflammatory profiles in women with eating disorder: Linking inflammatory biomarkers to clinical phenotypes. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2024; 162:106956. [PMID: 38218002 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2023] [Revised: 12/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Eating disorders (ED) represent a group of very complex and serious diagnoses characterized by emotional dysregulation and impulsivity. New approaches are necessary to achieve effective diagnosis and treatments. Shifting biomarker research away from the constraints of diagnostic categories may effectively contribute to a dimensional differentiation across disorders according to neurobiology (e.g., inflammatory biomarkers). Thus, the aim of our study was to identify inflammatory profiles in patients with ED. METHODS A sample of 100 women with an ED (23.4 ± 8.55 years) and 59 healthy controls (HC) (20.22 ± 4.18 years) was used. K-means cluster analysis was followed to identify inflammatory clusters considering seven blood biomarkers (iNOS, TNFα, COX2, p38, ERK, TBARS and PPARγ). Moreover, a wide assessment of clinical features was conducted. RESULTS Two distinct clusters were identified. Cluster 1 patients were characterized by higher inflammatory levels of TNF-α, COX2, p38, and ERK, and had more restrictive anorexia diagnosis than cluster 2. Cluster 2 participants showed higher inflammatory levels of iNOS and were older than cluster 1 and controls and had lower BMI than HC. In addition, they had higher levels of bulimic symptoms than those from the cluster 1 and HC, and higher impulsivity than HC. All ED patients (regardless of cluster) showed higher ED symptoms and more trauma than HC. CONCLUSIONS Our study revealed that inflammatory dysfunction may be linked with clinical endophenotypes in ED, one more restrictive (cluster 1) with an inflammation/oxidative endophenotype more cytokine and MAPK/ERK mediated, and the other more impulsive, with more bulimic symptoms (cluster 2) with NO free radical high output source iNOS. Trauma seems to be a vulnerability factor for both endophenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Díaz-Marsá
- Network Center for Biomedical Research in Mental Health, Institute of Health "Carlos III" (CIBERSAM, ISCIII), Madrid, Spain; Department of Legal Medicine, Psychiatry, and Pathology, School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Madrid, Spain; IIS Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - José Manuel López-Villatoro
- Department of Legal Medicine, Psychiatry, and Pathology, School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Madrid, Spain; IIS Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain.
| | | | - Francisco Ruiz-Guerrero
- Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Santander, Spain; Valdecilla Biomedical Research Institute (IDIVAL), Santander, Spain
| | - Andrés Gómez Del Barrio
- Network Center for Biomedical Research in Mental Health, Institute of Health "Carlos III" (CIBERSAM, ISCIII), Madrid, Spain; Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Santander, Spain; Valdecilla Biomedical Research Institute (IDIVAL), Santander, Spain
| | | | | | | | - Alejandro de la Torre-Luque
- Network Center for Biomedical Research in Mental Health, Institute of Health "Carlos III" (CIBERSAM, ISCIII), Madrid, Spain; Department of Legal Medicine, Psychiatry, and Pathology, School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Madrid, Spain
| | - José Luis Carrasco
- Network Center for Biomedical Research in Mental Health, Institute of Health "Carlos III" (CIBERSAM, ISCIII), Madrid, Spain; Department of Legal Medicine, Psychiatry, and Pathology, School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Madrid, Spain; IIS Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier R Caso
- Network Center for Biomedical Research in Mental Health, Institute of Health "Carlos III" (CIBERSAM, ISCIII), Madrid, Spain; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, UCM, Madrid, Spain; IIS Hospital 12 de Octubre (Imas12), IUIN-UCM, Madrid, Spain
| | - Karina S MacDowell
- Network Center for Biomedical Research in Mental Health, Institute of Health "Carlos III" (CIBERSAM, ISCIII), Madrid, Spain; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, UCM, Madrid, Spain; IIS Hospital 12 de Octubre (Imas12), IUIN-UCM, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan C Leza
- Network Center for Biomedical Research in Mental Health, Institute of Health "Carlos III" (CIBERSAM, ISCIII), Madrid, Spain; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, UCM, Madrid, Spain; IIS Hospital 12 de Octubre (Imas12), IUIN-UCM, Madrid, Spain
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López-Villatoro JM, De la Torre-Luque A, MacDowell KS, Galvez-Merlin A, Gómez Del Barrio A, Beato-Fernández L, Ruiz-Guerrero F, Mola-Cardenes P, Polo-Montes F, León-Velasco M, Castro-Fuentes L, Leza JC, Carrasco JL, Díaz-Marsá M. Transdiagnostic inflammatory and oxidative biomarkers with predictive capacity of self-injurious behavior in impulsive and unstable disorders. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2024; 130:110927. [PMID: 38151169 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2023.110927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Alterations in inflammatory processes have previously been reported in impulsive and unstable disorders, as well as in other psychiatric conditions. In order to investigate transdiagnostic biomarkers associated with various phenotypic features of these disorders, this study is designed to identify biomarkers of inflammatory and oxidative endophenotypes related to autolytic behavior. METHODS Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were collected from 35 patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD), 29 patients with restrictive eating disorder (rED), 21 patients with purging eating disorder (pED) and 23 control subjects. Plasma levels of different inflammatory and oxidative factors were measured by ELISA and the expression of selected proteins was by Western Blot. Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed to categorize the different inflammatory factors. Additionally, Ancova was performed to observe the differences in the principal components among the different groups and logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the predictive capacity of these components for autolytic behaviors. RESULTS We found two inflammatory/oxidative components were associated with BPD, characterized by high levels of JNK and ERK and low levels of GPx, SOD and Keap1; and two other inflammatory/oxidative components were linked to pED, associated with more JNK, TBARS and TNF-α and less GPx and SOD. Two components, with more JNK and ERK and less GPx, SOD and Keap1, predicted non-suicidal self-injury and three components, with higher JNK, TBARS and TNF-α levels and lower GPx, SOD and iNOS levels, predicted suicide attempts. CONCLUSIONS These results strongly support the endophenotypic characterization of impulsivity and the identification of transdiagnostic inflammatory/oxidative biomarkers relevant to autolytic behavior in impulsive and unstable disorders. These dates lay the groundwork for developing of screening tests for these biomarker components to rapidly detect biological risk factors for specific impulse control disorders and future self-injurious behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M López-Villatoro
- Institute of Health Research, Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid, Spain; Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, UCM, Madrid, Spain.
| | - A De la Torre-Luque
- Biomedical Research Networking Consortium for Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain; Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, UCM, Madrid, Spain
| | - K S MacDowell
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Institute of Health Research Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), University Institute of Research in Neurochemistry UCM, Madrid, Spain; Biomedical Research Networking Consortium for Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - A Galvez-Merlin
- Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, UCM, Madrid, Spain
| | - A Gómez Del Barrio
- Biomedical Research Networking Consortium for Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain; Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, Eating Disorders Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Santander, Spain; Valdecilla Biomedical Research Institute (IDIVAL), Santander, Spain
| | | | - F Ruiz-Guerrero
- Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, Eating Disorders Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Santander, Spain; Valdecilla Biomedical Research Institute (IDIVAL), Santander, Spain
| | - P Mola-Cardenes
- Institute of Health Research, Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | - L Castro-Fuentes
- Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, Eating Disorders Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Santander, Spain
| | - J C Leza
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Institute of Health Research Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), University Institute of Research in Neurochemistry UCM, Madrid, Spain; Biomedical Research Networking Consortium for Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - J L Carrasco
- Biomedical Research Networking Consortium for Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain; Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, UCM, Madrid, Spain
| | - M Díaz-Marsá
- Biomedical Research Networking Consortium for Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain; Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, UCM, Madrid, Spain
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Diaz-Marsá M, López-Villatoro JM, De la Torre-Luque A, MacDowell KS, Galvez-Merlin A, Gómez Del Barrio A, Ruiz-Guerrero F, Beato-Fernández L, Polo-Montes F, León-Velasco M, Martín-Hernández D, Carrasco-Diaz A, Leza JC, Carrasco JL. Decreased oxytocin plasma levels and oxytocin receptor expression associated with aggressive behavior in aggressive-impulsive disorders. J Psychiatr Res 2024; 170:200-206. [PMID: 38157667 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.12.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION This study aims to enhance the understanding of the association between the phenotypic and endophenotypic characteristics of impulsive-aggressive disorders, through the study of plasma oxytocin (OXT) and oxytocin receptor (OXTR) levels in patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and patients with eating disorders (ED), as well as to examine the relationship of OXT system with aggressive behavior in these disorders. METHODS 68 patients with BPD, 67 patients with ED and 57 healthy control subjects were examined for plasma oxytocin levels and protein expression of OXTR in blood mononuclear cells. Aggressive behavior was assessed using the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI-2). Other self and hetero-aggressive behaviors were also evaluated through interviews. RESULTS BPD and ED patients exhibited significantly lower plasma oxytocin levels than control subjects. Furthermore, BPD patients demonstrated significantly reduced expression of OXTR compared to controls. Plasma oxytocin levels negatively correlated with verbal aggression, while OXTR expression was inversely associated with the STAXI trait subscale. CONCLUSIONS The findings validate the existence of oxytocin system dysfunction in impulsive-aggressive disorders. They also support the link between low OXT levels in plasma and OXTR expression and the impulsive-aggressive behavior that characterizes these patients in both state and trait situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Diaz-Marsá
- Biomedical Research Networking Consortium for Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Spain; Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, UCM, Spain
| | - J M López-Villatoro
- Institute of Health Research, Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), Spain; Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, UCM, Spain.
| | - A De la Torre-Luque
- Biomedical Research Networking Consortium for Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Spain; Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, UCM, Spain
| | - K S MacDowell
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Institute of Health Research Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), University Institute of Research in Neurochemistry UCM, Spain; Biomedical Research Networking Consortium for Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Spain
| | - A Galvez-Merlin
- Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, UCM, Spain
| | - A Gómez Del Barrio
- Biomedical Research Networking Consortium for Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Spain; Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, Eating Disorders Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Santander, Spain; Valdecilla Biomedical Research Institute (IDIVAL), Santander, Spain
| | - F Ruiz-Guerrero
- Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, Eating Disorders Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Santander, Spain; Valdecilla Biomedical Research Institute (IDIVAL), Santander, Spain
| | | | | | | | - D Martín-Hernández
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Institute of Health Research Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), University Institute of Research in Neurochemistry UCM, Spain; Biomedical Research Networking Consortium for Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Spain
| | | | - J C Leza
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Institute of Health Research Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), University Institute of Research in Neurochemistry UCM, Spain; Biomedical Research Networking Consortium for Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Spain
| | - J L Carrasco
- Biomedical Research Networking Consortium for Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Spain; Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, UCM, Spain
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López-Villatoro JM, Díaz-Marsá M, De la Torre-Luque A, MacDowell KS, Prittwitz C, Leza JC, Carrasco JL. Inflammatory and oxidative endophenotypes in borderline personality disorder: A biomarker cluster analysis. World J Biol Psychiatry 2023; 24:587-594. [PMID: 36919867 DOI: 10.1080/15622975.2023.2183254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study is designed to search for aggrupation of inflammatory/oxidative biomarker alterations in borderline personality disorder (BPD) and their association with phenotypic features. METHODOLOGY Inflammatory/nitrosative proteins were measures in plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from BPD patients. Patients were assessed on different clinical dimensions of BPD. Oxidative damage was tested by measuring TBARS, nitrites, catalase, GPx and SOD. Protein expression of IκBα, NFκB, iNOS, COX-2, PPARγ, Keap1, NQO1, Nrf2 and α7nAChR was also determined. Western blot and ELISA were used for measurements and a cluster analysis of inflammatory/oxidative biomarkers alterations was performed to investigate subgroups of patients with similar alterations and its relationship with clinical features of BPD. RESULTS 69 patients were included in the study. Two inflammatory/nitrosative clusters of patients were found: Cluster 1 patients showed significantly higher levels of GPx, IκBα, keap1, NQO1, PPARγ, α7nAChR and Nrf2 than cluster 2 patients. These patients had significantly longer duration of illness, milder anxiety symptoms and lower prescription of antipsychotic drugs than cluster 2. CONCLUSIONS Two clusters of BPD patients according to the inflammatory/nitrosative profiles were identified. Cluster 1 had increased antioxidant and anti-inflammatory biomarkers and was characterised by greater chronicity of illness but less acute symptomatic severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M López-Villatoro
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, UCM, Madrid, Spain
| | - M Díaz-Marsá
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, UCM, Madrid, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Consortium for Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - A De la Torre-Luque
- Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, UCM, Madrid, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Consortium for Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - K S MacDowell
- Biomedical Research Networking Consortium for Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Institute of Health Research Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), University Institute of Research in Neurochemistry UCM, Madrid, Spain
| | - C Prittwitz
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid, Spain
| | - J C Leza
- Biomedical Research Networking Consortium for Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Institute of Health Research Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), University Institute of Research in Neurochemistry UCM, Madrid, Spain
| | - J L Carrasco
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, UCM, Madrid, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Consortium for Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
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López-Villatoro JM, MacDowell KS, Diaz-Marsá M, De La Torre-Luque A, Prittwitz C, Galvez-Merlin A, Leza JC, Carrasco JL. Reduced glucocorticoid receptor expression in blood mononuclear cells of patients with borderline personality disorder. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:951373. [PMID: 35982938 PMCID: PMC9379248 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.951373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Abnormal cortisol suppression in borderline personality disorder has been consistently reported in previous studies, suggesting that a hypersensitivity response of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis might occur in these patients. In this study, the abnormalities of the cortisol response in borderline personality disorder (BPD) are investigated through the cellular expression of the glucocorticoid receptors (GR) in BPD patients and its relationship with traumatic experiences. METHODOLOGY Sixty-nine male and female patients diagnosed with BPD and 62 healthy controls were studied. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were obtained to investigate the expression of glucocorticoid receptors. Western blot was used to measure protein expression. Statistical correlations of GR expression with BPD clinical features and intensity of previous traumatic events were investigated. RESULTS A significant decrease in the nuclear expression of glucocorticoid receptors was found in BPD patients compared to healthy controls in a regression analysis controlling for the effect of medication. GR expression decrease correlated significantly with clinical levels of anxiety and depression, but not with previous traumatic experiences in patients. CONCLUSIONS BPD patients had a lower nuclear expression of glucocorticoid receptors than healthy controls, when it was controlled for the effect of medication. The reduced GR expression in BPD patients was not associated with previous traumatic events and might be associated with other aspects of BPD, such as emotional instability; more studies with larger samples of patients are still needed to understand the relevance and the implications of these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Karina S MacDowell
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Madrid, Spain.,Institute of Health Research Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain.,University Institute of Research in Neurochemistry UCM, Madrid, Spain.,Biomedical Research Networking Consortium for Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Marina Diaz-Marsá
- Biomedical Research Networking Consortium for Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain.,Department of Legal Medicine, Psychiatry and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Alejandro De La Torre-Luque
- Biomedical Research Networking Consortium for Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain.,Department of Legal Medicine, Psychiatry and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Clara Prittwitz
- Health Research Institute, Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Juan C Leza
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Madrid, Spain.,Institute of Health Research Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain.,University Institute of Research in Neurochemistry UCM, Madrid, Spain.,Biomedical Research Networking Consortium for Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jose L Carrasco
- Biomedical Research Networking Consortium for Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain.,Department of Legal Medicine, Psychiatry and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Madrid, Spain
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Carrasco JL, Buenache E, MacDowell KS, De la Vega I, López-Villatoro JM, Moreno B, Díaz-Marsá M, Leza JC. Decreased oxytocin plasma levels and oxytocin receptor expression in borderline personality disorder. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2020; 142:319-325. [PMID: 32740913 DOI: 10.1111/acps.13222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is characterized by intense affective reactions with underlying social and interpersonal cognitive deficits. Oxytocin has largely been associated with both stress regulation and social cognition in psychiatric patients and in non-clinical populations in previous studies. Finally, abnormal oxytocin levels have been preliminary reported in BPD patients. METHODS 53 patients with moderate-severe BPD and 31 healthy control subjects were investigated for plasma levels of oxytocin and protein expression of oxytocin receptor in blood mononuclear cells. Clinical assessments were made for severity, functionality, and comorbidity with axis I and II conditions. RESULTS Oxytocin plasma levels were significantly lower in BPD patients compared with controls. In addition, protein expression of oxytocin receptor was significantly reduced in the BPD group. A positive correlation was found between plasma oxytocin levels and the activity index score of the Zuckerman-Kuhlman Personality Questionnaire (ZKPQ). Oxytocin receptor protein expression, on the contrary, had a negative correlation with the ZKPQ sociability index score. CONCLUSIONS Results support the evidence of a dysfunction of the oxytocin system in borderline personality disorder, which could be involved in emotional dysregulation and interpersonal disturbances in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- J L Carrasco
- Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, University Complutense Madrid (UCM), Madrid, Spain.,Institute of Health Research, Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid, Spain.,Biomedical Research Networking Consortium for Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - E Buenache
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, UCM, Madrid, Spain
| | - K S MacDowell
- Biomedical Research Networking Consortium for Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, UCM, Madrid, Spain.,Institute of Health Research, Hospital 12 de Octubre (Imas12), Madrid, Spain.,University Institute of Research in Neurochemistry UCM (IUIN), Madrid, Spain
| | - I De la Vega
- Institute of Health Research, Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid, Spain
| | - J M López-Villatoro
- Institute of Health Research, Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid, Spain
| | - B Moreno
- Biomedical Research Networking Consortium for Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, UCM, Madrid, Spain.,Institute of Health Research, Hospital 12 de Octubre (Imas12), Madrid, Spain.,University Institute of Research in Neurochemistry UCM (IUIN), Madrid, Spain
| | - M Díaz-Marsá
- Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, University Complutense Madrid (UCM), Madrid, Spain.,Institute of Health Research, Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid, Spain.,Biomedical Research Networking Consortium for Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - J C Leza
- Biomedical Research Networking Consortium for Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, UCM, Madrid, Spain.,Institute of Health Research, Hospital 12 de Octubre (Imas12), Madrid, Spain.,University Institute of Research in Neurochemistry UCM (IUIN), Madrid, Spain
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González-Vives S, Díaz-Marsá M, De la Vega I, Palomares N, Vázquez S, López-Villatoro JM, Palomo T, Carrasco JL. Hypothalamic-pituitary axis response to a 0.25-MG dexamethasone test in women with fibromyalgia. Stress 2020; 23:284-289. [PMID: 31591938 DOI: 10.1080/10253890.2019.1678024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Fibromyalgia has been reported as having some clinical overlap with both depression and emotionally-unstable disorders, although both types of disorders present different cortisol suppression response to dexamethasone. In this study we investigated the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system (HPA) in the fibromyalgic syndrome (FMS) using a dexamethasone suppression test (DST) of 0.25 mg designed to specifically detect cortisol hypersuppression. We studied 59 women (20 patients and 39 healthy controls) to whom the DST was administered together with a battery of psychometric tests. In our results, patients with FMS had significant lower levels of basal cortisol pre- and post-DST compared with control subjects. However, cortisol suppression rate in patients after DST was not significantly different than in controls. As other syndromes like post-traumatic stress disorder or emotionally unstable personality disorders, also related with high incidence of severe trauma, FMS patients presented significant low basal cortisol. However, they did not have cortisol hypersuppression as is commonly found in the mentioned disorders. The relation of FMS with lifetime traumas and with emotional instability should be further investigated in order to improve psychological treatment approaches for these patients.LAY SUMMARYPatients with fibromyalgic syndrome have basal hypocortisoism but no cortisol hypersuppression after dexamethasone infusion compared to control subjects, as other trauma-related syndromes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara González-Vives
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Marina Díaz-Marsá
- Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Hospital Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Irene De la Vega
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Nerea Palomares
- Centro de Investigación en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Hospital Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Personality, Evaluation and Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Susana Vázquez
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Tomás Palomo
- Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Hospital Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
| | - José Luis Carrasco
- Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Hospital Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
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