title: Inflammatory activation and cholinergic anti-inflammatory system in eating disorders.
abstract: Dysfunctional serotoninergic regulation and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis overreactivity have been consistently reported in research studies with eating disorders (ED). In addition, the links between stress response, serotonin function, HPA axis and inflammatory mechanisms in ED have also been suggested in a number of studies. In our study, inflammatory parameters in white blood cells were investigated in 26 female patients with ED and 25 healthy control subjects matched for sex, age and ethnicity. Patients were free of medication for at least two weeks at the time of the study. Results showed a significant increase in plasma levels of the proinflammatory cytokine IL1β and the protein expression of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) in peripheral mononuclear blood cells (PMBCs) in ED patients compared with controls. As well as a significant increase of the oxidative-nitrosative marker TBARS (Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances) in plasma. These findings were associated with increased expression of the alpha7 subunit of the nicotinic receptor (α7nAChR) in PMBC in ED patients independent of plasma cotinine levels. These results suggest that a pro-inflammatory and oxidant phenotype might be present in ED patients. Further research on cellular inflammatory and anti-inflammatory pathways might be oriented to investigate differences between ED subtypes and to search for new potential targets for pharmacological treatment.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Spain.
authors.forename: Karina S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: MacDowell
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Díaz-Marsá
authors.forename: Itziar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Güemes
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Leza
authors.forename: José Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Carrasco
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D003367:Cotinine / Q000097:blood; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D003600:Cytosol / Q000378:metabolism; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000503:physiopathology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000523:psychology*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000503:physiopathology; D026361:Reactive Nitrogen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult; D064569:alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D026361:Reactive Nitrogen Species; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D064569:alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor; D003367:Cotinine