Reduced MIP-1β as a Trait Marker and Reduced IL-7 and IL-12 as State Markers of Anorexia Nervosa

Alterations in certain inflammatory markers have been found in individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN). However, their relation to clinical characteristics has not been extensively explored, nor is it clear whether they are trait or state features of the disorder. This cross-sectional study measured serum concentrations of 36 inflammatory markers in people with acute AN (n = 56), recovered AN (rec-AN; n = 24) and healthy controls (HC; n = 51). The relationship between body mass index (BMI), eating disorder psychopathology, depression symptoms and inflammatory markers was assessed. Statistical models controlled for variables known to influence cytokine concentrations (i.e., age, ethnicity, smoking status and medication usage). Overall, most inflammatory markers including pro-inflammatory cytokines were unchanged in AN and rec-AN. However, in AN and rec-AN, concentrations of macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1β were lower than HCs. Interleukin (IL)-7 and IL-12/IL-23p40 were reduced in AN, and concentrations of macrophage-derived chemokine, MIP-1α and tumor necrosis factor-α were reduced in rec-AN compared to HC. In conclusion, a reduction in MIP-1β may be a trait marker of the illness, whereas reductions in IL-7 and IL-12/IL-23p40 may be state markers. The absence of increased pro-inflammatory cytokines in AN is contradictory to the wider literature, although the inclusion of covariates may explain our differing findings.

Orbitofrontal Sulcogyral Pattern as a Transdiagnostic Trait Marker of Early Neurodevelopment in the Social Brain

Objective. To systematically assess previous findings on the orbitofrontal sulcogyral pattern in psychiatric disorders and to address the utility of this pattern as a transdiagnostic trait marker of early neurodevelopment in the social brain. Methods. An online literature search was conducted using the PubMed database from inception to August 2019. Studies included in this review were based on the Chiavaras’s original classification method of this H-shaped sulcus (type I, II, and III), intermediate orbital sulcus (IOS), and posterior orbital sulcus (POS). Results. Twenty-six studies were included in the review. Sixteen studies (62%) focused on schizophrenia spectrum (Sz) disorders, and the remaining studies focused on autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), history of extremely preterm and extremely low birth weight, bipolar disorder (BD), panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, cannabis users, and pathological gambling. In Sz, compared with healthy controls, the orbitofrontal sulcogyral pattern was decreased in type I, increased in type II and III, and there were fewer numbers of IOS and POS reported, although specificity in sex and hemispheric dominance was not consistent. BD and neurodevelopmental disorders in ASD and ADHD showed a similar pattern of alteration to that observed in the Sz. Conclusions. The present review of the orbitofrontal sulcogyral pattern indicated that type I expression might reflect a neurodevelopmental protective marker, and type II and III expressions, as well as fewer numbers of IOS and POS, might reflect neurodevelopmental risk markers. These trait markers may be transdiagnostic among socially disabling diseases.

Altered global brain network topology as a trait marker in patients with anorexia nervosa

BackgroundResting state functional magnetic resonance imaging studies have identified functional connectivity patterns associated with acute undernutrition in anorexia nervosa (AN), but few have investigated recovered patients. Thus, a trait connectivity profile characteristic of the disorder remains elusive. Using state-of-the-art graph–theoretic methods in acute AN, the authors previously found abnormal global brain network architecture, possibly driven by local network alterations. To disentangle trait from starvation effects, the present study examines network organization in recovered patients.MethodsGraph–theoretic metrics were used to assess resting-state network properties in a large sample of female patients recovered from AN (recAN, n = 55) compared with pairwise age-matched healthy controls (HC, n = 55).ResultsIndicative of an altered global network structure, recAN showed increased assortativity and reduced global clustering as well as small-worldness compared with HC, while no group differences at an intermediate or local network level were evident. However, using support-vector classifier on local metrics, recAN and HC could be separated with an accuracy of 70.4%.ConclusionsThis pattern of results suggests that long-term recovered patients have an aberrant global brain network configuration, similar to acutely underweight patients. While the finding of increased assortativity may represent a trait marker of AN, the remaining findings could be seen as a scar following prolonged undernutrition.