title: Neuroinflammatory genes associated with post-traumatic stress disorder: implications for comorbidity.
abstract: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating condition that only occurs in the aftermath of traumatic event exposure and is characterized by an impaired stress response and chronic, low-grade inflammation. Dysregulation of the immune system may contribute towards central nervous system tissue damage and exacerbation of fear memories following trauma. Patients with PTSD often have comorbid psychiatric and somatic disorders that are of themselves associated with heightened inflammation. Several immune-related genes have been associated with PTSD and other co-occurring disorders. In this review, we propose that chronic inflammation, particularly neuroinflammation, is an important contributory factor towards PTSD comorbidity. Thus, novel treatments that target dysregulated inflammatory processes could provide symptomatic relief from PTSD and its comorbid disorders. This review investigates the intricate links between chronic stress, anxiety and neuroinflammation and the potential impact of increased neuroinflammation on PTSD pathology and comorbidity.
authors.affiliation: aDepartment of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, SA MRC Centre for TB Research, DST/NRF Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics bDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Lyndon J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Zass
authors.forename: Stephanie A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Hart
authors.forename: Soraya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Seedat
authors.forename: Sian M J
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hemmings
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Malan-Müller
mesh_terms: D015897:Comorbidity; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015213:Neuroimmunomodulation / Q000235:genetics; D012307:Risk Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000276:immunology