Chronic delivery of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone in rat hypothalamus using albumin-alginate microparticles: Effects on food intake and body weight

International audienc

Chronic delivery of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone in rat hypothalamus using albumin-alginate microparticles: Effects on food intake and body weight

International audienc

Psychopathological and personality features in primary Sjögren's syndrome-associations with autoantibodies to neuropeptides

Objectives. To determine the spectrum of personality and psychopathology features of patients with primary SS (pSS) and explore whether they are linked to disease characteristics as well as the presence of autoantibodies (autoAbs) against neuropeptides. Methods. Personality and psychopathological variables were determined in 103 pSS patients and 110 healthy controls (HCs). AutoAbs against hypothalamic and pituitary neuropeptides were measured by ELISA in 25 pSS patients and 25 HCs. Data analysis was performed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression models and by comparison with regression models. Results. A higher number of pSS patients reported distinct personality traits (neuroticism, psychoticism and obsessiveness) and psychological distress compared with HCs. After adjustment for personality characteristics and demographics, only hypochondriasis was the main psychopathology feature associated with pSS, suggesting that psychopathological manifestations in the setting of pSS are primarily dependent on premorbid personality characteristics. Although no differences were detected between serum levels of neuropeptide autoAbs in pSS cases and controls, levels of autoAbs against α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) correlated with anxiety scores in both groups examined but with higher intercept in pSS subjects. Significant correlations between anxiety score and autoAbs directed against oxytocin and vasopressin were also detected in the pSS patients. Conclusions. pSS patients exhibit a distinct pattern of personality traits and high levels of psychological distress compared with HCs, which seems to be determined by premorbid personality characteristics. Correlations between anxiety and α-MSH autoAbs suggest their potential involvement in anxiety development in both pSS and HCs. © The Author 2010. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Rheumatology. All rights reserved

Corticotropin (ACTH)-reactive immunoglobulins in adolescents in relation to antisocial behavior and stress-induced cortisol response. The TRAILS study

Elevated levels of corticotropin (ACTH)-reactive immunoglobulins (ACTH IgG) were found in males with conduct disorder, suggesting their involvement in the biology of antisocial behavior. We first aimed to confirm these findings in a large general population sample of adolescents. Secondly, we studied the association between ACTH IgG levels and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis response to stress. Free and total ACTH IgG levels were measured in sera of 1230 adolescents (15-18 years). HPA axis activity was determined by measuring salivary cortisol before, during, and after a social stress test. Antisocial behavior was assessed using the Antisocial Behavior Questionnaire. ACTH peptide and IgG affinity kinetics for ACTH were assayed in a subsample of 90 adolescents selected for high or low ACTH IgG levels.In boys, higher total ACTH IgG levels were associated with higher antisocial behavior scores (β=1.05, p=0.04), especially at high levels of free ACTH IgG. In girls, antisocial behavior was associated with low free ACTH IgG levels (β=-0.20, p=0.04). Stress-induced cortisol release was associated with free ACTH IgG in boys (βareaunderthecurve=-0.67, p<0.01), and with total ACTH IgG in girls (βrecovery=0.84, p=0.05). The affinity kinetics assay showed that ACTH IgG association rates were lower in both boys and girls with high ACTH IgG levels.These data show that ACTH IgG levels are related to antisocial behavior and HPA axis response to stress in adolescents. The mechanisms behind these associations, including different ACTH binding properties of IgG in subjects with antisocial behavior, deserve further attention