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Negative correlation between IL-1β, IL-12 and TNF-γ, and cortisol levels in patients with panic disorder
Ana Belén Fernández-Serrano1, Francisco José Moya-Faz2, Cesar Augusto Giner Alegría3
1Health Sciences PhD program, Universidad Católica de Murcia UCAM, Murcia, Spain.
Introduction:
Chronic exposure to stress is a major risk factor in anxiety disorders (ADs) and can be accompanied by an altered microbiome-gut-brain axis and a compromised immune system. In recent years, the study of inflammatory processes in AD has gained special attention. Continued stress causes the reactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, the alteration of the intestinal microbiota and the consequent release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, affecting the sensitivity to stress and the similar behavior of anxiety.
Method:
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the interrelationships between measures of proinflammatory cytokines and cortisol in patients with panic disorder (PD).
Results:
The main results of the correlation analysis revealed that the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-12, and tumor necrosis factor gamma were negatively correlated with cortisol scores (area under the curve with respect to the ground).
Conclusions:
These results suggest that the inflammatory response is associated with the reactivity of the HPA axis in patients with PD and may influence the maintenance of anxiety behavior.
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