Lipopolysaccharide-induced cytokine production in obsessive-compulsive disorder and generalized social anxiety disorder.
The immune system is implicated in the pathophysiology of various psychiatric disorders. In anxiety disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and generalized social anxiety disorder (GSAD), immunological findings are equivocal and sparse. In this study, we investigated the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- stimulated cytokine levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-8 (IL-8) by peripheral blood leukocytes in 26 OCD patients, 26 GSAD patients, and 52 healthy controls. We found that leukocytes of OCD patients produced less IL-6 compared with matched controls, whereas no cytokine differences were found between GSAD patients and matched controls. When both patient groups were compared, a trend toward lower IL-6 levels in OCD patients was observed. This supports the idea of immunological involvement in the pathophysiology of OCD and suggests that GSAD and OCD might be different in immunological respect.
Fluitman
Sjoerd
S
The Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. s.fluitman@umcutrecht.nl
Denys
Damiaan
D
Vulink
Nienke
N
Schutters
Sara
S
Heijnen
Cobi
C
Westenberg
Herman
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult
D016207:Cytokines; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides