5HT2A receptor binding is increased in borderline personality disorder.
BACKGROUND
Postmortem studies in suicide victims demonstrate an increase in the number of post-synaptic 5-HT(2A) receptor binding sites in ventral lateral and orbital frontal cortex. Diminished metabolic responses to serotonergic activation are noted in these areas in impulsive subjects with borderline personality disorder (BPD), a group at high risk for suicidal behaviors. We examined 5HT(2A) receptor binding potential (BP) in impulsive subjects with BPD, with positron emission tomography neuroimaging with [(18)F] altanserin.


METHODS
Fourteen female subjects with BPD were assessed for Axis I comorbidity, depressed mood, impulsivity, aggression, suicidality, childhood abuse, and compared with 11 healthy female control subjects. The 5HT(2A) receptor binding was evaluated in prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate, hippocampus, temporal lobe, occipital cortex, and thalamus. Data were analyzed with Logan graphical analysis and a four-compartment (4C) model.


RESULTS
Hippocampal 5HT(2A) receptor binding was significantly increased in BPD subjects compared with control subjects in both Logan and 4C analyses, covarying for age. Hippocampal BP values were related to comorbid major depressive episode, with highest values found in non-depressed BPD subjects and lowest in healthy control subjects. The BP values were not related to depressed mood, impulsivity, aggression, suicidality, or childhood abuse.


CONCLUSIONS
5HT(2A) receptor binding is increased in the hippocampus of BPD subjects independent of depressed mood, impulsivity, aggression, suicidality, or childhood abuse. Dysregulation of serotonergic function in hippocampus might contribute to affective and behavioral symptoms in BPD.
Soloff
Paul H
PH
Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. soloffph@upmc.edu
Price
Julie C
JC
Meltzer
Carolyn C
CC
Fabio
Anthony
A
Frank
Guido K
GK
Kaye
Walter H
WH
D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003863:Depression / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D007650:Ketanserin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A / Q000378:metabolism*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; C071983:altanserin; D007650:Ketanserin