Lipopolysaccharide-induced experimental immune activation does not impair memory functions in humans
Abstract
Systemic immune activation occurring together with release of peripheral cytokines can affect behavior and the functioning of the central nervous system (CNS). However, it remains unknown whether and to what extent cognitive functions like memory and attention are affected during transient immune activation. We employed a human endotoxemia model and standardized neuropsychological tests to assess the cognitive effects of an experimental inflammation in two groups of 12 healthy young men before and after intravenous injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS, Escherichia coli, 0.4 ng/kg) or physiological saline. Endotoxin administration caused a profound transient physiological response with elevations in body temperature, number of circulating neutrophils, and increases in plasma cytokine levels [interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α], and concentrations of norepinephrine, ACTH and cortisol. However, these changes in immune and neuroendocrine parameters were not associated with alterations of memory performance, selective attention or executive functions.
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Across four studies, endotoxin exposure had no significant effect on digit span forward or backward performance.
“Among the four studies that have been conducted, no significant effect of endotoxin exposure on digit span forward or backward performance was observed (Grigoleit et al., 2010; Krabbe et al., 2005; Reichenberg et al., 2001; van den Boogaard et al., 2010).”
From The role of inflammation in core features of depression: Insights from paradigms using exogenously-induced inflammation. (2018) · cites this paper as Grigoleit et al., 2010
No significant effects of inflammation on visuospatial working memory were observed after acute endotoxin or IFN-α therapy.
“In addition, no significant effects of inflammation on visuospatial working memory were observed following either acute endotoxin (Grigoleit et al., 2010) nor following IFN-α therapy (Caraceni et al., 1998).”
From The role of inflammation in core features of depression: Insights from paradigms using exogenously-induced inflammation. (2018) · cites this paper as Grigoleit et al., 2010
Stroop performance was not impaired after low-dose (0.4 ng/mL) or high-dose (2.0 ng/mL) endotoxin administration.
“Stroop performance was not impaired after endotoxin administration at either a low dose (0.4 ng/mL) (Grigoleit et al., 2010) or high dose (2.0 ng/mL) (van den Boogaard et al., 2010).”
From The role of inflammation in core features of depression: Insights from paradigms using exogenously-induced inflammation. (2018) · cites this paper as Grigoleit et al., 2010
Human experimental studies employing LPS-induced immune activation reported either increased, no, or decreased cognitive performance after LPS administration.
“Experimental approaches in humans, employing lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced immune activation to investigate the effects of a peripheral inflammatory response on learning and memory reported either increased [24], no [25], [26], [27] or decreased [28] cognitive performance after LPS administration.”
From Dose-dependent effects of endotoxin on neurobehavioral functions in humans (2011) · cites this paper as [25]
Data in humans so far reported inconsistent results of experimental endotoxemia with a significant improvement or no effect on working memory.
“However, data in humans so far reported inconsistent results of experimental endotoxemia with a significant improvement [24] or no effect on working memory [25], [27].”
From Dose-dependent effects of endotoxin on neurobehavioral functions in humans (2011) · cites this paper as [25]
Experimental data in humans are controversial, either reporting impaired or unaffected declarative memory performance after LPS administration.
“However, experimental data in humans are controversial, either reporting impaired [24], [28] or unaffected declarative memory performance [25], [26], [27] after LPS administration.”
From Dose-dependent effects of endotoxin on neurobehavioral functions in humans (2011) · cites this paper as [25]
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Dose-dependent effects of endotoxin on neurobehavioral functions in humans
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- Authors
- Grigoleit, J.-S., Oberbeck, J. R., Lichte, P., Kobbe, P., Wolf, O. T., Montag, T., Rey, A. D., Gizewski, E. R., Engler, H., & Schedlowski, M.
- Affiliations
- Essen University Hospital (DE)
- Ruhr University Bochum (DE)
- Paul Ehrlich Institut (DE)
- Philipps University of Marburg (DE)
- Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Schedlowski, Manfred
- ORCID
- Venue
- Neurobiology of Learning and Memory
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2010-11
- Volume
- 94
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 561-567
- ISSN
- 1074-7427 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2078960721
- Cited by
- 59
- References
- 51
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 9
- FWCI
- 2.87
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Neurobiology of Learning and Memory (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- RWTH Publications (RWTH Aachen) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
- Universität Duisburg-Essen
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Biological Psychiatry › Tryptophan and brain disorders
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
- Keywords
- lipopolysaccharide, endotoxemia, systemic immune activation, memory, cognitive function, attention, executive function, cytokines, neuroendocrine response, cortisol, norepinephrine, ACTH, interleukin-6, IL-10, TNF-α
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Analysis of Variance, Attention, Cognition, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Immune System, Lipopolysaccharides, Male, Memory, Neuropsychological Tests, Reference Values, Cytokines, Young Adult, Stroop Test
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