TY - JOUR
T1 - Longitudinal changes in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) but not cytokines contribute to hippocampal recovery in anorexia nervosa above increases in body mass index
AU - Keeler, Johanna Louise
AU - Bahnsen, Klaas
AU - Wronski, Marie-Louis
AU - Bernardoni, Fabio
AU - Tam, Friederike
AU - Arold, Dominic
AU - King, Joseph A
AU - Kolb, Theresa
AU - Poitz, David M
AU - Roessner, Veit
AU - Treasure, Janet
AU - Himmerich, Hubertus
AU - Ehrlich, Stefan
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press.
PY - 2024/7/1
Y1 - 2024/7/1
N2 - 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, age
2, 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.
AB - 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, age
2, 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.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85187116424&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1017/S0033291724000394
DO - 10.1017/S0033291724000394
M3 - Article
C2 - 38450444
SN - 0033-2917
VL - 54
SP - 2242
EP - 2253
JO - Psychological Medicine
JF - Psychological Medicine
IS - 9
ER -