Cited by 176Stress Responses and CortisolTryptophan and brain disordersTreatment of Major Depression

Reduced expression of glucocorticoid-inducible genes GILZ and SGK-1: high IL-6 levels are associated with reduced hippocampal volumes in major depressive disorder

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Frodl, T, Carballedo, A, Hughes, M M, Saleh, K, Fagan, A, Skokauskas, N, McLoughlin, D M, Meaney, J +2 more·2012·Translational Psychiatry

Abstract

Neuroplasticity may have a core role in the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder (MDD), a concept supported by experimental studies that found that excessive cortisol secretion and/or excessive production of inflammatory cytokines impairs neuronal plasticity and neurogenesis in the hippocampus. The objective of this study was to examine how changes in the glucocorticoid and inflammatory systems may affect hippocampal volumes in MDD. A multimodal approach with structural neuroimaging of hippocampus and amygdala, measurement of peripheral inflammatory proteins interleukin (IL)-6 and C-reactive protein (CRP), glucocorticoid receptor (GR) mRNA expression, and expression of glucocorticoid-inducible genes (glucocorticoid-inducible genes Leucin Zipper (GILZ) and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase-1 (SGK-1)) was used in 40 patients with MDD and 43 healthy controls (HC). Patients with MDD showed smaller hippocampal volumes and increased inflammatory proteins IL-6 and CRP compared with HC. Childhood maltreatment was associated with increased CRP. Patients with MDD, who had less expression of the glucocorticoid-inducible genes GILZ or SGK-1 had smaller hippocampal volumes. Regression analysis showed a strong positive effect of GILZ and SGK-1 mRNA expression, and further inverse effects of IL-6 concentration, on hippocampal volumes. These findings suggest that childhood maltreatment, peripheral inflammatory and glucocorticoid markers and hippocampal volume are interrelated factors in the pathophysiology of MDD. Glucocorticoid-inducible genes GILZ and SGK-1 might be promising candidate markers for hippocampal volume changes relevant for diseases like MDD. Further studies need to explore the possible clinical usefulness of such a blood biomarker, for example, for diagnosis or prediction of therapy response.

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  • In major depressive disorder, higher peripheral pro-inflammatory cytokines, more inflammation-related gene expression, and less neuroprotective gene expression are associated with greater hippocampal volume loss and medial prefrontal cortex thinning.

    “higher levels of peripheral pro-inflammatory cytokines, greater expression of inflammation-related genes, and reduced expression of neuroprotective genes, have all been associated with greater hippocampal volume decline and mPFC thinning in MDD (95–97).”

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Frodl T O'Keane V How does the brain deal with stress? A review with focus on major depressive disorder Neurobiol Disease 2011(in press). 22426398
  2. Mondelli V Cattaneo A Murri MB Di Forti M Handley R Hepgul N Stress and inflammation reduce brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression in first-episode psychosis: a pathway to smaller hippocampal volume J Clin Psychiatry 2011 72 1677 1684 21672499 PMC4082665

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Authors
Frodl, T., Carballedo, A., Hughes, M. M., Saleh, K., Fagan, A., Skokauskas, N., McLoughlin, D. M., Meaney, J., O'Keane, V, & Connor, T. J.
Affiliations
  • Trinity College Dublin (IE)
  • St. James's Hospital (IE)
Corresponding author
Frodl, T
Venue
Translational Psychiatry
Published
2012-03-13
Volume
2
Issue
3
Pages
e88-e88
ISSN
2158-3188 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2164860485
Cited by
176
References
45
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 16 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 16 · 2013: 13 · 2012: 4
FWCI
6.37
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Translational Psychiatry (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Lenus, The Irish Health Repository (Dr Steevens Hospital Library) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Health Research Board
  • Science Foundation Ireland (SFI/07/SK/B1214C)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Biological Psychiatry › Tryptophan and brain disorders
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Treatment of Major Depression
Keywords
major depressive disorder, hippocampal volume, GILZ, SGK1, interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, child abuse, glucocorticoid receptor, neuroinflammation, glucocorticoid signaling, blood biomarkers, amygdala, neuroplasticity
MeSH terms
Serum-Glucocorticoid Regulated Kinases, Adult, Amygdala, C-Reactive Protein, Child, Child Abuse, Major Depressive Disorder, Dominance, Cerebral, Female, Hippocampus, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Organ Size, Receptors, Glucocorticoid, Reference Values, RNA, Messenger, Statistics as Topic, Transcription Factors, Interleukin-6, Gene Expression, Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases, Immediate-Early Proteins

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