Associations of inflammatory cytokines and cortisol with nonmotor features of Huntington's disease
Abstract Objective Huntington's disease (HD) is an inherited neurodegenerative disease involving progressive motor abnormalities, cognitive decline, and psychiatric disturbances. Depression and cognitive difficulties are among the most impactful symptoms of HD, yet the pathogenesis of these sym...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2024-04-01
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| Series: | Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/acn3.52016 |
| _version_ | 1827279133715988480 |
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| author | Hiba Bilal Stuart J. McDonald Julie C. Stout Ian H. Harding |
| author_facet | Hiba Bilal Stuart J. McDonald Julie C. Stout Ian H. Harding |
| author_sort | Hiba Bilal |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Objective Huntington's disease (HD) is an inherited neurodegenerative disease involving progressive motor abnormalities, cognitive decline, and psychiatric disturbances. Depression and cognitive difficulties are among the most impactful symptoms of HD, yet the pathogenesis of these symptoms is not fully understood. HD involves low‐level chronic inflammation and dysregulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, which are linked to depression and cognitive impairment in non‐HD populations. However, previous research on the relationships of these pathologies with depression and cognition in HD is limited and inconsistent. Methods Fifty‐three adults with the HD gene expansion (30 premanifest and 23 manifest) completed measures of depression and cognitive functioning. Forty‐eight out of 53 participants provided hair samples for quantification of cortisol, and 34 participants provided blood samples for quantification of peripheral inflammatory cytokines. We examined the associations of four cytokines (interleukin [IL]‐6, IL‐10, IL‐1β, and tumor necrosis factor [TNF]‐α) and cortisol levels with depression and cognitive scores. Results In unadjusted models, higher levels of plasma IL‐6, IL‐10, and TNF‐α correlated with higher depression scores, and higher levels of IL‐10 and TNF‐α correlated with poorer cognitive performance. After controlling for age, sex, and body mass index, only the correlations of IL‐10 with depression and cognitive performance remained significant. No correlations were evident with hair cortisol. Interpretations Peripheral inflammation is associated with depression symptoms and cognitive impairment in HD. Our findings suggest that interactions between the immune and nervous systems are important in HD, and highlight the potential of chronic inflammation as a therapeutic target in early stages of HD. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T08:14:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-871d1e7b69a6439a97efe08a56f4b870 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2328-9503 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T08:14:03Z |
| publishDate | 2024-04-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology |
| spelling | doaj.art-871d1e7b69a6439a97efe08a56f4b8702024-04-17T04:36:58ZengWileyAnnals of Clinical and Translational Neurology2328-95032024-04-0111498999910.1002/acn3.52016Associations of inflammatory cytokines and cortisol with nonmotor features of Huntington's diseaseHiba Bilal0Stuart J. McDonald1Julie C. Stout2Ian H. Harding3School of Psychological Sciences, and Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health Monash University Clayton Victoria AustraliaDepartment of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School Monash University Prahran Victoria AustraliaSchool of Psychological Sciences, and Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health Monash University Clayton Victoria AustraliaDepartment of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School Monash University Prahran Victoria AustraliaAbstract Objective Huntington's disease (HD) is an inherited neurodegenerative disease involving progressive motor abnormalities, cognitive decline, and psychiatric disturbances. Depression and cognitive difficulties are among the most impactful symptoms of HD, yet the pathogenesis of these symptoms is not fully understood. HD involves low‐level chronic inflammation and dysregulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, which are linked to depression and cognitive impairment in non‐HD populations. However, previous research on the relationships of these pathologies with depression and cognition in HD is limited and inconsistent. Methods Fifty‐three adults with the HD gene expansion (30 premanifest and 23 manifest) completed measures of depression and cognitive functioning. Forty‐eight out of 53 participants provided hair samples for quantification of cortisol, and 34 participants provided blood samples for quantification of peripheral inflammatory cytokines. We examined the associations of four cytokines (interleukin [IL]‐6, IL‐10, IL‐1β, and tumor necrosis factor [TNF]‐α) and cortisol levels with depression and cognitive scores. Results In unadjusted models, higher levels of plasma IL‐6, IL‐10, and TNF‐α correlated with higher depression scores, and higher levels of IL‐10 and TNF‐α correlated with poorer cognitive performance. After controlling for age, sex, and body mass index, only the correlations of IL‐10 with depression and cognitive performance remained significant. No correlations were evident with hair cortisol. Interpretations Peripheral inflammation is associated with depression symptoms and cognitive impairment in HD. Our findings suggest that interactions between the immune and nervous systems are important in HD, and highlight the potential of chronic inflammation as a therapeutic target in early stages of HD.https://doi.org/10.1002/acn3.52016 |
| spellingShingle | Hiba Bilal Stuart J. McDonald Julie C. Stout Ian H. Harding Associations of inflammatory cytokines and cortisol with nonmotor features of Huntington's disease Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology |
| title | Associations of inflammatory cytokines and cortisol with nonmotor features of Huntington's disease |
| title_full | Associations of inflammatory cytokines and cortisol with nonmotor features of Huntington's disease |
| title_fullStr | Associations of inflammatory cytokines and cortisol with nonmotor features of Huntington's disease |
| title_full_unstemmed | Associations of inflammatory cytokines and cortisol with nonmotor features of Huntington's disease |
| title_short | Associations of inflammatory cytokines and cortisol with nonmotor features of Huntington's disease |
| title_sort | associations of inflammatory cytokines and cortisol with nonmotor features of huntington s disease |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/acn3.52016 |
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