Cerebrospinal Fluid Inflammatory Cytokines and Aggression in Personality Disordered Subjects

• Published in: The international journal of neuropsychopharmacology Vol. 18; no. 7; p. pyv001
• Main Authors: Coccaro, Emil F., Lee, Royce, Coussons-Read, Mary
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: US Oxford University Press 01.05.2015
• Subjects: Adult; Aggression - psychology; Cerebrospinal fluid; Cytokines; Cytokines - cerebrospinal fluid; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; Dopamine - cerebrospinal fluid; Female; Human subjects; Humans; Impulsive Behavior; Interleukin-6 - cerebrospinal fluid; Male; Middle Aged; Personality; Personality Disorders - cerebrospinal fluid; Personality Disorders - psychology; Predictive Value of Tests; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales - standards; Receptors, Interleukin-1 Type II - analysis; Serotonin - cerebrospinal fluid; Spinal Puncture - methods; Suicidal Ideation; Young Adult; sIL-1RII; impulsivity; aggression; personality; IL-6; CSF
• ISSN: 1461-1457; 1469-5111; 1469-5111
• DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyv001

Background:Neurochemical studies have pointed to a modulatory role in human aggression for a variety of central neurotransmitters and neuromodulators such as cytokines. While animal studies of cytokines suggest an aggression-facilitating role for central cytokines, especially for interleukin-1β and other cytokines, no cerebrospinal fluid studies of cytokines have yet been reported in regard to human aggression.Methods:Basal lumbar cerebrospinal fluid samples were obtained from 38 physically healthy subjects with DSM-5 Personality Disorder and assayed for cerebrospinal fluid interleukin-6 (log IL-6) and cerebrospinal fluid soluble IL-1 Receptor II protein in the context of their relationship with measures of aggression.Results:Cerebrospinal fluid soluble interleukin-1 Receptor II (r=.35, r2 = .12, P= .03), but not log interleukin-6 (r = -.05, r2 = .00, P= .76), levels were positively correlated with a composite measure of aggression. Adding relevant covariates, including cerebrospinal fluid levels of serotonin and dopamine metabolites, to the statistical model doubled the strength of this relationship (partial r = .54, r2 = .29, P= .002). No relationship was seen with history of suicidal behavior or with any measure of impulsivity, negative affectivity, or of general dimensions of personality.Conclusion:These data suggest a positive relationship between at least one inflammatory cytokine in the central nervous system and aggression in human subjects. This finding adds to the complex picture of the central neurochemistry of impulsive aggression in human subjects.