White matter alterations in chronic MDMA use: Evidence from diffusion tensor imaging and neurofilament light chain blood levels

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftForschungsartikelBeigetragenBegutachtung

Beitragende

  • Josua Zimmermann - , University of Zurich, ETH Zurich (Autor:in)
  • Nicole Friedli - , University of Zurich (Autor:in)
  • Francesco Bavato - , University of Zurich (Autor:in)
  • Philipp Stämpfli - , University of Zurich (Autor:in)
  • Rebecca Coray - , University of Zurich (Autor:in)
  • Markus R. Baumgartner - , University of Zurich (Autor:in)
  • Denis Grandgirard - , Universität Bern (Autor:in)
  • Stephen L. Leib - , Universität Bern (Autor:in)
  • Antje Opitz - , Technische Universität Dresden (Autor:in)
  • Erich Seifritz - , University of Zurich (Autor:in)
  • Ann Kathrin Stock - , Klinik und Poliklinik für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie (Autor:in)
  • Christian Beste - , Klinik und Poliklinik für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie (Autor:in)
  • David M. Cole - , University of Zurich (Autor:in)
  • Boris B. Quednow - , University of Zurich (Autor:in)

Abstract

3,4–Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, “Ecstasy”) is a serotonin- and noradrenaline-releasing substance, currently among the most widely used illicit substances worldwide. In animal studies, repeated exposure to MDMA has been associated with dendritic but also axonal degeneration in the brain. However, translation of the axonal findings, specifically, to humans has been repeatedly questioned and the few existing studies investigating white matter alterations in human chronic MDMA users have yielded conflicting findings. In this study, we combined whole-brain diffusion tensor imaging and neurofilament light chain (NfL) analysis in blood to reveal potential MDMA-induced axonal neuropathology. To this end, we assessed 39 chronic MDMA users and 39 matched MDMA-naïve healthy controls. MDMA users showed increased fractional anisotropy in several white matter tracts, most prominently in the corpus callosum as well as corticospinal tracts, with these findings partly related to MDMA use intensity. However, the NfL levels of MDMA users were not significantly different from those of controls. We conclude that MDMA use is not associated with significant white matter lesions due to the absence of reduced fractional anisotropy and increased NfL levels commonly observed in conditions associated with white matter lesions, including stimulant and ketamine use disorders. Hence, the MDMA-induced axonal degradation demonstrated in animal models was not observed in this human study of chronic MDMA users.

Details

OriginalspracheEnglisch
Aufsatznummer103191
FachzeitschriftNeuroImage: Clinical
Jahrgang2022
Ausgabenummer36
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - Jan. 2022
Peer-Review-StatusJa

Externe IDs

PubMed 36126513
ORCID /0000-0002-2989-9561/work/160952359

Schlagworte

Ziele für nachhaltige Entwicklung

Schlagwörter

  • Axonal neuropathology, DTI, MDMA, Neurofilament light chain, Neurotoxicity, White matter

Bibliotheksschlagworte