Plasma Levels of Soluble Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor 2 (sTNFR2) Are Associated with Hippocampal Volume and Cognitive Performance in Patients with Schizophrenia.

Abstract

Background:

An imbalance in the inflammatory tumor necrosis factor system, including soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 (sTNFR2), may contribute to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.

Methods:

We measured the plasma levels of sTNFR2 in 256 healthy controls and 250 patients with schizophrenia including antipsychotic drug-free patients and treatment-resistant patients. We also explored the possible association between plasma sTNFR2 levels and cognitive performance in healthy controls and patients with schizophrenia using the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Third Edition, the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised, and the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test. An association between plasma sTNFR2 levels and hippocampal volume in controls and patients with schizophrenia was also investigated via MRI.

Results:

We found that the plasma levels of sTNFR2 were significantly higher in patients with schizophrenia, including both antipsychotic drug-free patients and treatment-resistant patients. We found a significant negative association between plasma sTNFR2 levels and cognitive performance in controls and patients with schizophrenia. Hippocampal volume was also negatively associated with plasma sTNFR2 levels in patients with schizophrenia.

Conclusion:

Together, these convergent data suggest a possible biological mechanism for schizophrenia, whereby increased sTNFR2 levels are associated with a smaller hippocampal volume and cognitive impairment.

• Authors: Noriko Kudo, Hidenaga Yamamori, Tamaki Ishima, Kiyotaka Nemoto, Yuka Yasuda, Michiko Fujimoto, Hirotsugu Azechi, Tomihisa Niitsu, Shusuke Numata, Manabu Ikeda, Masaomi Iyo, Tetsuro Ohmori, Masaki Fukunaga, Yoshiyuki Watanabe, Kenji Hashimoto, Ryota Hashimoto
• Journal: The international journal of neuropsychopharmacology (Int J Neuropsychopharmacol) Vol. 21 Issue 7 Pg. 631-639 (07 01 2018) ISSN: 1469-5111 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 29529289 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Cognitive Dysfunction (etiology, physiopathology)
• Female
• Hippocampus (diagnostic imaging, pathology)
• Humans
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II (blood)
• Schizophrenia (blood, complications, pathology, physiopathology)