Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 20, 2026
10:20
Method for Identifying Small Molecule Inhibitors of the Protein-protein Interaction Between HCN1 and TRIP8b
Published on: November 11, 2016
9.1K
Pentraxin 3 is reduced in bipolar disorder
Faith Dickerson1, Cassie Stallings1, Andrea Origoni1
1Stanley Research Program, Sheppard Pratt Health System, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Bipolar Disorders
|November 27, 2014
Summary
Individuals with bipolar disorder exhibit lower pentraxin 3 levels, indicating potential innate immune system impairment. This finding may offer new diagnostic and therapeutic avenues for bipolar disorder.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimmunology
- Psychiatric disorders
- Innate immunity
Background:
- Bipolar disorder is associated with immunologic abnormalities.
- Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is a key marker of innate immunity.
- PTX3 levels have not been previously investigated in bipolar disorder.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate pentraxin 3 (PTX3) levels in individuals with bipolar disorder.
- To compare PTX3 levels between bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and control groups.
- To explore the association between PTX3 levels and bipolar disorder.
Main Methods:
- Measured PTX3 levels in 831 participants (256 bipolar disorder, 309 schizophrenia, 266 controls).
- Utilized linear regression to compare PTX3 levels across groups, adjusting for covariates.
- Employed logistic regression to assess odds ratios for low/high PTX3 levels relative to controls.
Main Results:
- Bipolar disorder patients showed significantly lower PTX3 levels than controls (p < 0.001).
- Schizophrenia patients did not exhibit significantly different PTX3 levels compared to controls.
- Bipolar disorder was associated with increased odds of low PTX3 and decreased odds of high PTX3 levels.
Conclusions:
- Low PTX3 levels in bipolar disorder suggest impaired innate immunity.
- Further research into innate immunity's role in bipolar disorder pathogenesis is warranted.
- Findings may inform novel diagnostic and treatment strategies for bipolar disorder.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Mania and Antimanic Drugs: Overview
814
Mania, a psychological condition characterized by elevated mood, increased energy, and reduced sleep need, is part of the bipolar disorder cycle. The exact cause of mania isn't entirely known, but it is thought to be a combination of genetic, environmental, and neurological factors. Bipolar disorder involves alternating manic and depressive episodes. Mood stabilizers like lithium, antipsychotics, and anticonvulsants help manage these episodes. Lithium carbonate is particularly effective as...
814
01:30Bipolar Disorder
1.5K
Bipolar disorder is a chronic mental health condition marked by significant mood fluctuations, including episodes of mania and depression. Elevated energy levels, heightened mood or irritability, impulsive behavior, reduced sleep needs, rapid speech, racing thoughts, inflated self-esteem, and distractibility characterize mania. Individuals with bipolar disorder often alternate between depressive and manic states, with periods of emotional stability lasting an average of six months to a year.
1.5K
01:27Panic Disorder
1.2K
Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent and sudden minutes-long episodes of intense fear, known as panic attacks. These attacks may feel like heart attacks and often happen without warning or a specific cause. They can include symptoms such as rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, chest pain, trembling, sweating, dizziness, and a sense of helplessness. During a panic attack, individuals may feel as though they are experiencing a heart attack or are in a...
1.2K
01:23Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents
1.3K
Atypical antidepressants, including bupropion (Wellbutrin), mirtazapine (Remeron), nefazodone (Serzone), trazodone (Desyrel), and vilazodone (Viibryd), offer unique mechanisms of action. Bupropion weakly inhibits dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake, aiding depression treatment and smoking cessation, with a low risk of sexual dysfunction. Mirtazapine enhances serotonin and norepinephrine neurotransmission, leading to sedation, increased appetite, and weight gain. As a result, it helps treat...
1.3K
01:26Psychosis: Goals of Pharmacotherapy
694
Antipsychotic drugs are a crucial treatment method for acute and chronic psychoses, bipolar illness, and behavioral disorders. The selection of these drugs depends on several factors, including the state of the disease, clinical judgment, possible drug interactions, and the patient's sensitivity to adverse effects. In immediate scenarios, such as delirium and dementia, short-term treatment with low doses of high-potency typical or atypical agents can effectively manage symptom exacerbation.
694
01:28Antidepressant Drugs: Tricyclics, SSRIs, and SNRIs
2.3K
Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs), including Desipramine (Norpramin), Imipramine (Tofranil), Clomipramine (Anafranil), and Amitriptyline (Elavil), inhibit serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake and also block other receptors. They are used for depression, pain conditions, and insomnia. Common adverse effects include anticholinergic effects, sedation, orthostatic hypotension, and weight gain. They have a narrow therapeutic window and so require plasma-level monitoring. Abrupt discontinuation can...
2.3K