BACKGROUND: Growing evidence suggests a pathophysiological role of cytokines in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α is a key cytokine. Therefore, we performed a systematic review to examine the findings regarding TNF-α derived from both animal and human studies of PTSD. METHODS: Using PRISMA guidelines, we reviewed relevant articles in PubMed from inception until 11th April 2017. Human studies that reported group comparisons and/or longitudinal investigations of TNF-α production/concentration were included. Research reporting on TNF-α levels in animal models of PTSD were also included. RESULTS: Twenty-seven articles were identified. Data from human cross-sectional studies suggests that plasma/serum levels of TNF-α are elevated in those with PTSD, as compared to healthy controls. Longitudinal assessments of TNF-α are limited and data are mixed. Limited data from animal studies suggest an increased TNF-α production in the hippocampus of rats following stress, which can be reversed by immunomodulatory drugs. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest TNF-α may be a potential biomarker and treatment target for PTSD. Findings need to be considered in light of heterogeneous methods for measurement and analysis of TNF-α concentration. Longitudinal research is needed to understand the role of TNF-α in the development and/or maintenance of PTSD.
BACKGROUND: Growing evidence suggests a pathophysiological role of cytokines in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α is a key cytokine. Therefore, we performed a systematic review to examine the findings regarding TNF-α derived from both animal and human studies of PTSD. METHODS: Using PRISMA guidelines, we reviewed relevant articles in PubMed from inception until 11th April 2017. Human studies that reported group comparisons and/or longitudinal investigations of TNF-α production/concentration were included. Research reporting on TNF-α levels in animal models of PTSD were also included. RESULTS: Twenty-seven articles were identified. Data from human cross-sectional studies suggests that plasma/serum levels of TNF-α are elevated in those with PTSD, as compared to healthy controls. Longitudinal assessments of TNF-α are limited and data are mixed. Limited data from animal studies suggest an increased TNF-α production in the hippocampus of rats following stress, which can be reversed by immunomodulatory drugs. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest TNF-α may be a potential biomarker and treatment target for PTSD. Findings need to be considered in light of heterogeneous methods for measurement and analysis of TNF-α concentration. Longitudinal research is needed to understand the role of TNF-α in the development and/or maintenance of PTSD.
Authors: Andreas Küffer; Laura D Straus; Aric A Prather; Sabra S Inslicht; Anne Richards; Judy K Shigenaga; Erin Madden; Thomas J Metzler; Thomas C Neylan; Aoife O'Donovan Journal: Psychoneuroendocrinology Date: 2018-12-05 Impact factor: 4.905
Authors: Frank M Schmidt; Christian Sander; Juliane Minkwitz; Roland Mergl; Bethan Dalton; Lesca M Holdt; Daniel Teupser; Ulrich Hegerl; Hubertus Himmerich Journal: Front Psychiatry Date: 2018-11-20 Impact factor: 4.157
Authors: Mark W Logue; Zhenwei Zhou; Filomene G Morrison; Erika J Wolf; Nikolaos P Daskalakis; Christos Chatzinakos; Foivos Georgiadis; Adam T Labadorf; Matthew J Girgenti; Keith A Young; Douglas E Williamson; Xiang Zhao; Jaclyn Garza Grenier; Bertrand Russell Huber; Mark W Miller Journal: Neurobiol Stress Date: 2021-09-20