title: Tissue Type-Specific Bioenergetic Abnormalities in Adults with Major Depression.
abstract: Brain bioenergetic abnormalities have been observed frequently in adults with major depressive disorder (MDD); however, results have been inconsistent regarding whether decreased or increased metabolism was observed. Phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P MRS) allows for the quantification of bioenergetic molecules, containing high-energy phosphates, over the whole brain as well as measuring the differences between gray matter and white matter. We recruited 50 subjects with a current diagnosis of MDD, not currently treated with psychotropic medication, between ages of 18 and 65 (mean±SD age: 43.4±13.6; 46% female) and 30 healthy volunteers, matched for age and gender (39.0±12.5 years of age; 36.6% female). All subjects received a T1 MP-FLASH scan for tissue segmentation followed by 31P MRS, chemical shift imaging scan with 84 voxels of data collected over the entire brain utilizing a dual-tuned, proton-phosphorus coil to minimize subject movement. Phosphocreatine and inorganic phosphate (Pi) varied in opposite directions across gray matter and white matter when MDD subjects were compared with controls. This finding suggests alterations in high-energy phosphate metabolism and regulation of oxidative phosphorylation in MDD patients. In addition, within the MDD group, gray matter Pi, a regulator of oxidative phosphorylation, correlated positively with severity of depression. These data support a model that includes changes in brain bioenergetic function in subjects with major depression.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, USA.
authors: David G
authors: DG
authors: Harper
authors: Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, USA.
authors: J Eric
authors: JE
authors: Jensen
authors: Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, USA.
authors: Caitlin
authors: C
authors: Ravichandran
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors: Roy H
authors: RH
authors: Perlis
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors: Maurizio
authors: M
authors: Fava
authors: The Brain Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
authors: Perry F
authors: PF
authors: Renshaw
authors: Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
authors: Dan V
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2512-2835
authors: DV
authors: Iosifescu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D066128:Gray Matter / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010710:Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism*; D010725:Phosphocreatine / Q000378:metabolism*; D010758:Phosphorus; D066127:White Matter / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010710:Phosphates; D010725:Phosphocreatine; D010758:Phosphorus