Investigating TSPO levels in occupation-related posttraumatic stress disorder
Abstract Microglia are immune brain cells implicated in stress-related mental illnesses including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Their role in the pathophysiology of PTSD, and on neurobiological systems that regulate stress, is not completely understood. We tested the hypothesis that microgli...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-31327-y |
| _version_ | 1797853838872412160 |
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| author | Sarah E. Watling Talwinder Gill Erin V. Gaudette J. Don Richardson Tina McCluskey Junchao Tong Jeffrey H. Meyer Jerry Warsh Rakesh Jetly Michael G. Hutchison Shawn G. Rhind Sylvain Houle Stephen J. Kish Isabelle Boileau |
| author_facet | Sarah E. Watling Talwinder Gill Erin V. Gaudette J. Don Richardson Tina McCluskey Junchao Tong Jeffrey H. Meyer Jerry Warsh Rakesh Jetly Michael G. Hutchison Shawn G. Rhind Sylvain Houle Stephen J. Kish Isabelle Boileau |
| author_sort | Sarah E. Watling |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Microglia are immune brain cells implicated in stress-related mental illnesses including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Their role in the pathophysiology of PTSD, and on neurobiological systems that regulate stress, is not completely understood. We tested the hypothesis that microglia activation, in fronto-limbic brain regions involved in PTSD, would be elevated in participants with occupation-related PTSD. We also explored the relationship between cortisol and microglia activation. Twenty participants with PTSD and 23 healthy controls (HC) completed positron emission tomography (PET) scanning of the 18-kDa translocator protein (TSPO), a putative biomarker of microglia activation using the probe [18F]FEPPA, and blood samples for measurement of cortisol. [18F]FEPPA VT was non-significantly elevated (6.5–30%) in fronto-limbic regions in PTSD participants. [18F]FEPPA VT was significantly higher in PTSD participants reporting frequent cannabis use compared to PTSD non-users (44%, p = 0.047). Male participants with PTSD (21%, p = 0.094) and a history of early childhood trauma (33%, p = 0.116) had non-significantly higher [18F]FEPPA VT. Average fronto-limbic [18F]FEPPA VT was positively related to cortisol (r = 0.530, p = 0.028) in the PTSD group only. Although we did not find a significant abnormality in TSPO binding in PTSD, findings suggest microglial activation might have occurred in a subgroup who reported frequent cannabis use. The relationship between cortisol and TSPO binding suggests a potential link between hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal-axis dysregulation and central immune response to trauma which warrants further study. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T19:56:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2e26b60e876e435592d38a1c1f49ac1f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T19:56:06Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-2e26b60e876e435592d38a1c1f49ac1f2023-04-03T05:25:38ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222023-03-0113111110.1038/s41598-023-31327-yInvestigating TSPO levels in occupation-related posttraumatic stress disorderSarah E. Watling0Talwinder Gill1Erin V. Gaudette2J. Don Richardson3Tina McCluskey4Junchao Tong5Jeffrey H. Meyer6Jerry Warsh7Rakesh Jetly8Michael G. Hutchison9Shawn G. Rhind10Sylvain Houle11Stephen J. Kish12Isabelle Boileau13Institute of Medical Sciences, University of TorontoInstitute of Medical Sciences, University of TorontoInstitute of Medical Sciences, University of TorontoThe MacDonald Franklin OSI Research Centre, Lawson Health Research InstituteBrain Health Imaging Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental HealthBrain Health Imaging Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental HealthInstitute of Medical Sciences, University of TorontoInstitute of Medical Sciences, University of TorontoDirectorate of Mental Health, Canadian Forces Health ServicesFaculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, University of TorontoFaculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, University of TorontoBrain Health Imaging Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental HealthInstitute of Medical Sciences, University of TorontoInstitute of Medical Sciences, University of TorontoAbstract Microglia are immune brain cells implicated in stress-related mental illnesses including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Their role in the pathophysiology of PTSD, and on neurobiological systems that regulate stress, is not completely understood. We tested the hypothesis that microglia activation, in fronto-limbic brain regions involved in PTSD, would be elevated in participants with occupation-related PTSD. We also explored the relationship between cortisol and microglia activation. Twenty participants with PTSD and 23 healthy controls (HC) completed positron emission tomography (PET) scanning of the 18-kDa translocator protein (TSPO), a putative biomarker of microglia activation using the probe [18F]FEPPA, and blood samples for measurement of cortisol. [18F]FEPPA VT was non-significantly elevated (6.5–30%) in fronto-limbic regions in PTSD participants. [18F]FEPPA VT was significantly higher in PTSD participants reporting frequent cannabis use compared to PTSD non-users (44%, p = 0.047). Male participants with PTSD (21%, p = 0.094) and a history of early childhood trauma (33%, p = 0.116) had non-significantly higher [18F]FEPPA VT. Average fronto-limbic [18F]FEPPA VT was positively related to cortisol (r = 0.530, p = 0.028) in the PTSD group only. Although we did not find a significant abnormality in TSPO binding in PTSD, findings suggest microglial activation might have occurred in a subgroup who reported frequent cannabis use. The relationship between cortisol and TSPO binding suggests a potential link between hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal-axis dysregulation and central immune response to trauma which warrants further study.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-31327-y |
| spellingShingle | Sarah E. Watling Talwinder Gill Erin V. Gaudette J. Don Richardson Tina McCluskey Junchao Tong Jeffrey H. Meyer Jerry Warsh Rakesh Jetly Michael G. Hutchison Shawn G. Rhind Sylvain Houle Stephen J. Kish Isabelle Boileau Investigating TSPO levels in occupation-related posttraumatic stress disorder Scientific Reports |
| title | Investigating TSPO levels in occupation-related posttraumatic stress disorder |
| title_full | Investigating TSPO levels in occupation-related posttraumatic stress disorder |
| title_fullStr | Investigating TSPO levels in occupation-related posttraumatic stress disorder |
| title_full_unstemmed | Investigating TSPO levels in occupation-related posttraumatic stress disorder |
| title_short | Investigating TSPO levels in occupation-related posttraumatic stress disorder |
| title_sort | investigating tspo levels in occupation related posttraumatic stress disorder |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-31327-y |
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