title: Cytokines and anorexia nervosa.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recent studies have indicated that the inflammatory cytokines could be implicated in anorexia nervosa and in its complications. To determinate the potential role of interleukins (IL-1, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10), interferon (IFN gamma), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha), and transforming growth factor (TGF-beta2) in anorexia nervosa, serum concentrations of these cytokines were measured in patients suffering from anorexia nervosa in comparison to healthy subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-nine anorexic women according to DSM-IV criteria participated in the study. The control group consisted of 20 healthy women without eating disorders, mood disorders, and immunological disorders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We find that serum IL-2 and TGF-beta2 concentrations were both significantly decreased in anorexic patients, although the other cytokines did not differ significantly between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results show that in patients with anorexia nervosa, there are lower levels of specific cytokines (especially IL-2 and TGF-beta2). These levels may reflect the combination of impaired nutrition and weight loss, therefore, the dysregulation of these cytokines may contribute in anorexia's complications. Follow-up studies should examine the effects of parameters such as starvation, psychopathologic factors, and psychoneuroendocrinological perturbation which could affect interplay between cytokines, neuropeptides, and neurotransmitters.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry Adolescent and Young Adult Psychiatry, Institut Mutualiste Montsouris, Paris, France. maurice.corcos@imm.fr
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Corcos
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Guilbaud
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chaouat
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cayol
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Speranza
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chambry
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Paterniti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moussa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Flament
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jeammet
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood; D008233:Lymphotoxin-alpha / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007376:Interleukin-2; D008233:Lymphotoxin-alpha