Inflammatory Cytokines and Nuclear Factor-Kappa B Activation in Adolescents with Bipolar and Major Depressive Disorders

Citation

Miklowitz, David J.; Portnoff, Larissa C.; Armstrong, Casey C.; Keenan-Miller, Danielle; Breen, Elizabeth C.; Muscatell, Keely A.; Eisenberger, Naomi I.; & Irwin, Michael R. (2016). Inflammatory Cytokines and Nuclear Factor-Kappa B Activation in Adolescents with Bipolar and Major Depressive Disorders. Psychiatry Research, 241, 315-322. PMCID: PMC4912920

Abstract

Adults with bipolar disorder (BD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) have higher circulating levels of proinflammatory cytokines than healthy controls. However, it is not known whether pediatric-onset patients with BD or MDD show increases in levels of inflammation or activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), a key transcription factor in inflammatory signaling. Circulating levels of inflammatory cytokines, as well as spontaneous and stimulated levels of activated NF-κB in total peripheral blood mononuclear cells, monocytes and lymphocytes were measured in adolescents with BD (n=18), MDD (n=13), or no psychiatric history (n=20). Participants had a range of mood symptoms at time of testing. Adolescents with BD had significantly higher spontaneous levels of NF-κB in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, monocyte and lymphocyte populations, and higher plasma levels of IL-1β than healthy controls. Following stimulation with recombinant human TNF-α, participants with BD and MDD both had greater increases in NF-κB in monocytes than controls. Further, greater stimulated increases of NF-κB in monocytes were associated with the current severity of depressive symptoms. The results are limited by the small sample and cross-sectional design. Interventions that target early immunological dysregulation should be examined in relation to long-term outcomes in youth with bipolar and depressive disorders.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2016.04.120

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year Published

2016

Journal Title

Psychiatry Research

Author(s)

Miklowitz, David J.
Portnoff, Larissa C.
Armstrong, Casey C.
Keenan-Miller, Danielle
Breen, Elizabeth C.
Muscatell, Keely A.
Eisenberger, Naomi I.
Irwin, Michael R.

PMCID

PMC4912920

ORCiD

Muscatell - 0000-0002-7893-5565