title: Lipopolysaccharide-induced experimental immune activation does not impair memory functions in humans.
abstract: Systemic immune activation occurring together with release of peripheral cytokines can affect behavior and the functioning of the central nervous system (CNS). However, it remains unknown whether and to what extent cognitive functions like memory and attention are affected during transient immune activation. We employed a human endotoxemia model and standardized neuropsychological tests to assess the cognitive effects of an experimental inflammation in two groups of 12 healthy young men before and after intravenous injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS, Escherichia coli, 0.4 ng/kg) or physiological saline. Endotoxin administration caused a profound transient physiological response with elevations in body temperature, number of circulating neutrophils, and increases in plasma cytokine levels [interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α], and concentrations of norepinephrine, ACTH and cortisol. However, these changes in immune and neuroendocrine parameters were not associated with alterations of memory performance, selective attention or executive functions.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Psychology and Behavioral Immunobiology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45122 Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Jan-Sebastian
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Grigoleit
authors.forename: J Reiner
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Oberbeck
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lichte
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kobbe
authors.forename: Oliver T
authors.initials: OT
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Montag
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: del Rey
authors.forename: Elke R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Gizewski
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Engler
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schedlowski
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D007107:Immune System / Q000276:immunology*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012016:Reference Values; D057190:Stroop Test; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D006854:Hydrocortisone