Cited by 21Tryptophan and brain disordersSuicide and Self-Harm StudiesTreatment of Major Depression

Signaling networks in inflammatory pathways and risk for suicidal behavior

Open access
Rengasamy, Manivel, Zhong, Yongqi, Marsland, Anna, Chen, Kehui, Douaihy, Antoine, Brent, David, Melhem, Nadine M.·2020·Brain, Behavior, & Immunity - Health

Abstract

Suicide is a leading cause of death in the young adult population, with few biological markers identified thus far to be associated with suicidality. Cytokines (including IL-6 and TNFα) may contribute to increased risk for depression and suicidality. Few studies have examined the associations of cytokine mRNA expression with depression and suicidal ideation and behavior. This study examines these associations and whether cytokine signaling networks differentiate suicide attempters (SA), suicide ideators (SI), and healthy controls (HC). Cytokine pathway marker (CPM; e.g. cytokines and proteins in cytokine signaling pathways) mRNA gene expression in whole blood was examined in suicide attempters (n ​= ​38), suicide ideators (n ​= ​38), and healthy controls (n ​= ​36). Between-group differences in CPM gene expression were examined. We also examined association of the mRNA of these genes with the severity of depression and suicidal ideation. Novel Gaussian Graphical Model (GGM) techniques were utilized to examine between-network partial correlation differences in cytokine signaling networks relevant to IL-6 and TNFα signaling pathways. The severity of depression symptoms was positively associated with TNFα mRNA levels and negatively associated with IL-10 mRNA levels, but CPM expression was not associated with suicidal ideation severity. There were no between-group differences in CPM markers among healthy controls, SI and SA groups after correcting for multiple comparisons. In network analyses, we found suggestive results of between-group network differences between SI and control groups in gene pairs with IL-6R and STAT3 as common nodes. In a cohort of suicide attempters and ideators, TNFα and IL-10 mRNA levels appear to be associated with depressive symptomology, consistent with elevation of pro-inflammatory cytokine production and reduction of anti-inflammatory cytokine production. Additionally, cytokine signaling networks may differentiate suicide ideators from healthy controls based on between-network differences, with differences possibly related to relationships of IL6R or STAT3 with other components of cytokine signaling networks.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.bbih.2020.100122

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  • A recent study reports no association between suicidal ideation severity and cytokine pathway marker mRNA expression.

    “However, a recent study reports no association between suicidal ideation severity and cytokine pathway marker mRNA expression (217), and longitudinal studies are needed to determine whether fluctuating suicide risk correlates with severity of inflammation.”

    From A brain-centric model of suicidal behavior (2020) · cites this paper as [217]

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Authors
Rengasamy, M., Zhong, Y., Marsland, A., Chen, K., Douaihy, A., Brent, D., & Melhem, N. M.
Affiliations
University of Pittsburgh (US)
Corresponding author
Melhem, Nadine M.
Venue
Brain, Behavior, & Immunity - Health
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2020-08
Volume
7
Pages
100122
ISSN
2666-3546 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3046603774
Cited by
21
References
51
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 1
FWCI
0.82
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Brain Behavior & Immunity - Health (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • National Institute of Mental Health
  • National Institutes of Health
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Biological Psychiatry › Tryptophan and brain disorders
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Treatment of Major Depression
Keywords
suicide, suicidal ideation, suicide attempters, interleukin-6, TNF-α, IL-10, IL-6 receptor, STAT3, depression severity, inflammatory signaling, whole blood gene expression

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