Citation

Ohlsson L, Gustafsson A, Lavant E, Suneson K, Brundin L, Westrin A, Ljunggren L, Lindqvist D. Acta Psychiatr. Scand. 2019; 139(2): 185-193.

Affiliation

Lund University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund, Psychiatry, Sweden.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/acps.12978

PMID

30347427

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Inflammation is associated with major depressive disorder (MDD) and suicidal behavior. According to the "leaky gut hypothesis", increased intestinal permeability may contribute to this relationship via bacterial translocation across enterocytes. We measured plasma levels of gut permeability markers, in patients with a recent suicide attempt (rSA), MDD subjects with no history of a suicide attempt (nsMDD), and healthy controls (HC), and related these markers to symptom severity and inflammation.

METHOD: We enrolled rSA (n=54), nsMDD (n=13) and HC (n=17). Zonulin, intestinal fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP), soluble CD14 and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were quantified in plasma. Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and Suicide Assessment Scale (SUAS) were used for symptom assessments.

RESULTS: The rSA-group displayed higher I-FABP and lower zonulin levels compared to both the nsMDD- and the HC-group (all p<0.001). IL-6 correlated positively with I-FABP (r=0.24, p<0.05) and negatively with zonulin (r=-0.25, p<0.05). In all subjects, I-FABP levels correlated positively with MADRS- (r=0.25, p<0.05) and SUAS-scores (r=0.38, p<0.001), and the latter correlation was significant also in the nsMDD-group (r=0.60, p<0.05).

CONCLUSION: The "leaky gut hypothesis" may improve our understanding of the link between inflammation and suicidal behavior. These findings should be considered preliminary until replicated in larger cohorts. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Depressive Disorder, Major; Intestinal Fatty Acid Binding Protein; Intestinal Permeability; Suicide, Attempted; Zonulin