nflammation and damage-associated molecular patterns in major psychiatric disorders

Abstract

Background: Emerging evidence indicates that inflammation plays an important role as a mechanism underlying mental disorders. However, most of the research on inflammatory mechanisms focuses on serum levels of interleukins and very few studies have investigated molecules that initiate and expand innate immune pathways such as Damage-Associated Molecular Patterns (DAMPs).Objective: This study investigated the levels of DAMPs among patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar disorder (BD) I and II, schizophrenia (SCZ), and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). We quantified serum levels of heat shock proteins (HSPs) 70, 60, and S100 calcium-binding protein B (S100B).Method: Serum levels of HSP70, HSP60, and S100B were assessed in a sample of participants with psychiatric disorders (n = 191) and a control group (CT, n = 59) using ELISA.Results: Serum concentration of HSP70 was significantly higher in the MDD group compared to the CT, SCZ, and BD groups. The GAD group showed higher concentrations of HSP70 compared to the SCZ group. Exploring the association with medications, lithium (p = 0.003) and clozapine (p = 0.028) were associated with lower levels of HSP70. Approximately 64% of the sample had DAMPs levels below the limits of detection indicated by the respective ELISA kit. Conclusion:This was the first study to assess DAMPs levels in a transdiagnostic sample. Our preliminary findings suggest that HSP70 may be associated with MDD pathophysiology. Medications such as lithium and clozapine were associated with lower levels of HSP70 in BD and SCZ groups, respectively. Therefore, it is worth mentioning that all participants were medicated, and many psychotropic drugs exert an anti-inflammatory effect, possibly reducing the signs of inflammation.