Brain-Behavior-Immune Interaction: Serum Cytokines and Growth Factors in Patients with Eating Disorders at Extremes of the Body Mass Index (BMI) Spectrum
Open accessAbstract
Alterations of the immune system are known in eating disorders (EDs), however the importance of cytokine balance in this context has not been clarified. We compared cytokines and growth factors at opposite ends of BMI ranges, in 90 patients classified in relation to BMI, depressive and EDs comorbidities. Serum concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and epidermal growth factor (EGF) were determined by a biochip analyzer (Randox Labs). Differences were calculated through ANOVA. Possible predictors of higher cytokine levels were evaluated through regression analysis. IL-1α, IL-10, EGF, and IFN-γ were altered individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN) and binge eating disorder (BED). Night-eating was associated with IL-8 and EGF levels, IL-10 concentrations with post-dinner eating and negatively with sweet-eating, long fasting with higher IFN-γ levels. IL-2 increase was not linked to EDs, but to the interaction of depression and BMI. Altogether, for the first time, IL-1α, IL-10, EGF, and IFN-γ were shown to differ between AN and HCs, and between AN and individuals with obesity with or without BED. Only IL-2 was influenced by depression. Dysfunctional eating behaviors predicted abnormal concentrations of IL-10, EGF, IL-8 and IFN-γ.
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Obese women with PCOS-related infertility have been shown to engage in inappropriate eating behaviors, which can often interfere with traditional weight-loss programs.
“Also, it should be noted that obese women with PCOS-related infertility have also been shown to engage in inappropriate eating behaviors, which can often interfere with traditional weight-loss programs [128,129].”
From Mediterranean diet nutrients to turn the tide against insulin resistance and related diseases (2020) · cites this paper as [129]
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References 69 · Cited by 63
Research works printed but not linked: 1
- [23]World Health Organization Obesity: Preventing and Managing the Global Epidemic WHO Technical Report 894 WHO Geneva, Switzerland 2000 11234459
- Authors
- Caroleo, M., Carbone, E. A., Greco, M., Corigliano, D. M., Arcidiacono, B., Fazia, G., Rania, M., Aloi, M., Gallelli, L., Segura-Garcia, C., Foti, D. P., & Brunetti, A.
- Affiliations
- Magna Graecia University (IT)
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
- ORCID
- Venue
- Nutrients
- Publisher
- MDPI AG
- Published
- 2019-08-23
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 1995
- ISSN
- 2072-6643 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC6770139
- OpenAlex
- W2969908014
- Cited by
- 63
- References
- 69
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 1
- FWCI
- 9.93
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- dx.doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Nutrients (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Eating Disorders and Behaviors
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Biological Psychiatry › Tryptophan and brain disorders
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Regulation of Appetite and Obesity
- Keywords
- eating disorders, anorexia nervosa, binge eating disorder, body mass index, serum cytokines, growth factors, IL-10, interferon-gamma, epidermal growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor, night eating, depression, obesity, immune system, dietary habits
- MeSH terms
- Night Eating Syndrome, Adolescent, Adult, Anorexia Nervosa, Feeding and Eating Disorders, Brain, Feeding Behavior, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Time Factors, Biomarkers, Weight Gain, Weight Loss, Body Mass Index, Case-Control Studies, Cytokines, Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins, Young Adult, Binge-Eating Disorder
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