Pentraxin 3 is reduced in bipolar disorder

Abstract

Individuals with bipolar disorder have low levels of pentraxin 3 which may reflect impaired innate immunity. An increased understanding of the role of innate immunity in the etiopathogenesis of bipolar disorder might lead to new modalities for the diagnosis and treatment of this disorder.

Immune alterations in acute bipolar depression

“…We have also found increased levels of markers of gastrointestinal inflammation in individuals with bipolar disorder who were not selected for mania . On the other hand, levels of pentraxin‐3 and mannose binding lectin, which are markers of innate immunity, were decreased in individuals with bipolar disorder, suggesting that some individuals with this disorder have decreased functioning in this arm of the immune system . An impairment in the innate immune system in individuals with bipolar disorder is supported by the finding of genetic abnormalities in Toll‐like receptor genes in this disorder .…”

“…Samples were assessed for IgG antibodies to human herpesviruses, T. gondii , endogenous retroviruses, and wheat gluten employing solid‐phase immunoassays as previously described . We also measured levels of CRP and pentraxin‐3 using previously described immunoassay methods . These markers were selected because they have been associated with psychiatric disorders in our previous studies .…”

Infectious and immunogenetic factors in bipolar disorder

“…Most of the early reports focused on immune hyporeactivity in SZ as demonstrated by a diminished cutaneous response to exogenous intradermal antigens such as guinea pig serum (41) and pertussis vaccine (42) or to histamine (43). Only recently has dysfunction of the immune system become a subject of interest in BD, with studies suggesting that this phenomenon may be under genetic control (5,44,45). Padmos and collaborators, when studying adolescent offspring of BD patients, observed a proinflammatory gene expression signature in monocytes of 85% of those who developed a mood disorder, and 45% of those who did not, compared to only 19% of control adolescents, suggesting that this immunopathology may be, at least in part, inherited (46).…”

Violent suicidal behaviour in bipolar disorder is associated with nitric oxide synthase 3 gene polymorphism

“…One strategy to decipher the genetic component of suicidal behaviour can be a targeted search for biomarkers of susceptibility based on existing pathophysiological clues. A prominent candidate to better understand the biological basis of suicidal behaviour among patients with BD is the nitric oxide (NO) system given its consistent and compelling role in oxidative stress and innate immune dysfunction which are pathophysiological underpinnings of both BD and suicidal behaviour . Increased oxidative stress and lowered antioxidant status with a history of self‐reported suicide attempts were found by Vargas et al.…”