Cells, biomarkers, and post-traumatic stress disorder: evidence for peripheral involvement in a central disease.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a complicated CNS syndrome. Looking beyond the CNS, recent studies suggest that peripheral blood mononuclear cells could cause and/or exacerbate PTSD. This review summarizes the literature, describes associations between circulating peripheral blood cells and PTSD, proposes a novel mechanism, and analyzes several biomarkers that appear to associate with PTSD symptoms. Several experimental animal models have shown that peripheral blood mononuclear cell activity can cause hippocampal volume loss and PTSD-like symptoms. Data from these models suggest that a traumatic event and/or traumatic events can trigger peripheral cells to migrate, mediate inflammation, and decrease neurogenesis, potentially leading to CNS volume loss. Biomarkers that associate with PTSD symptoms have the potential to differentiate PTSD from traumatic brain injury, but more work needs to be done. Research examining the mechanism of how traumatic events are linked to peripheral blood mononuclear cell functions and biomarkers may offer improved diagnoses and treatments for PTSD patients.
Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, California 92106-3521, USA. james.andrews@med.navy.mil
James A
JA
Andrews
Kameran D
KD
Neises
D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D019205:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gs / Q000378:metabolism; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / Q000502:physiology; D009000:Monocytes / Q000502:physiology; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000502:physiology; D017933:Peripheral Nervous System / Q000473:pathology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics
C435500:ABCC11 protein, human; D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D015415:Biomarkers; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors; D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D019205:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gs