Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 18, 2025
Rapid Fractionation and Isolation of Whole Blood Components in Samples Obtained from a Community-based Setting
Published on: November 30, 2015
Exploring the correlation between childhood trauma experiences, inflammation, and brain activity in first-episode,
Yuan Liu1, Yifan Jing1, Ying Gao1
1Institute of Mental Health, Tianjin Anding Hospital, Mental Health Center of Tianjin Medical University, 13 Liulin Rd., Hexi District, Tianjin, 300222, China.
Background:
Childhood trauma experiences and inflammation are pivotal factors in the onset and perpetuation of major depressive disorder (MDD). However, research on brain mechanisms linking childhood trauma experiences and inflammation to depression remains insufficient and inconclusive.
Methods:
Resting-state fMRI scans were performed on fifty-six first-episode, drug-naive MDD patients and sixty healthy controls (HCs). A whole-brain functional network was constructed by thresholding 246 brain regions, and connectivity and network properties were calculated. Plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays in MDD patients, and childhood trauma experiences were evaluated through the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ).
Results:
Negative correlations were observed between CTQ total (r = -0.28, p = 0.047), emotional neglect (r = -0.286, p = 0.042) scores, as well as plasma IL-6 levels (r = -0.294, p = 0.036), with mean decreased functional connectivity (FC) in MDD patients. Additionally, physical abuse exhibited a positive correlation with the nodal clustering coefficient of the left thalamus in patients (r = 0.306, p = 0.029). Exploratory analysis indicated negative correlations between CTQ total and emotional neglect scores and mean decreased FC in MDD patients with lower plasma IL-6 levels (n = 28), while these correlations were nonsignificant in MDD patients with higher plasma IL-6 levels (n = 28).
Conclusions:
This finding enhances our understanding of the correlation between childhood trauma experiences, inflammation, and brain activity in MDD, suggesting potential variations in their underlying pathophysiological mechanisms.
