Longitudinal changes in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) but not cytokines contribute to hippocampal recovery in anorexia nervosa above increases in body mass index

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftForschungsartikelBeigetragenBegutachtung

Abstract

Background
Physical sequelae of anorexia nervosa (AN) include a marked reduction in whole brain volume and subcortical structures such as the hippocampus. Previous research has indicated aberrant levels of inflammatory markers and growth factors in AN, which in other populations have been shown to influence hippocampal integrity.

Methods
Here we investigated the influence of concentrations of two pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-α] and interleukin-6 [IL-6]) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) on the whole hippocampal volume, as well as the volumes of three regions (the hippocampal body, head, and tail) and 18 subfields bilaterally. Investigations occurred both cross-sectionally between acutely underweight adolescent/young adult females with AN (acAN; n = 82) and people recovered from AN (recAN; n = 20), each independently pairwise age-matched with healthy controls (HC), and longitudinally in acAN after partial renourishment (n = 58). Hippocampal subfield volumes were quantified using FreeSurfer. Concentrations of molecular factors were analyzed in linear models with hippocampal (subfield) volumes as the dependent variable.

Results
Cross-sectionally, there was no evidence for an association between IL-6, TNF-α, or BDNF and between-group differences in hippocampal subfield volumes. Longitudinally, increasing concentrations of BDNF were positively associated with longitudinal increases in bilateral global hippocampal volumes after controlling for age, age2, estimated total intracranial volume, and increases in body mass index (BMI).

Conclusions
These findings suggest that increases in BDNF may contribute to global hippocampal recovery over and above increases in BMI during renourishment. Investigations into treatments targeted toward increasing BDNF in AN may be warranted.

Details

OriginalspracheEnglisch
Seiten (von - bis)1-12
Seitenumfang12
FachzeitschriftPsychological medicine
Jahrgang54
Ausgabenummer9
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - 7 März 2024
Peer-Review-StatusJa

Externe IDs

Scopus 85187116424
ORCID /0000-0002-2864-5578/work/159605437
ORCID /0000-0001-7803-1972/work/159605653
ORCID /0000-0003-2132-4445/work/159605887
ORCID /0000-0001-8029-8270/work/159606126
ORCID /0000-0002-5112-405X/work/159607709
ORCID /0000-0002-3907-6630/work/159608085
ORCID /0000-0001-8333-867X/work/159608191
Mendeley 0e644348-6df9-3ba8-9165-9aaf32da763c

Schlagworte

Schlagwörter

  • hippocampal subfields, structural MRI, hippocampus, cytokines, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, anorexia nervosa