1. A Systematic Review of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Evidence from Human and Animal Studies.
- Author
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Hussein S, Dalton B, Willmund GD, Ibrahim MAA, and Himmerich H
- Subjects
- Animals, Cross-Sectional Studies, Hippocampus metabolism, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Rats, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic psychology, Biomarkers blood, Disease Models, Animal, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic blood, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic diagnosis, Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha blood
- Abstract
Background: Growing evidence suggests a pathophysiological role of cytokines in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α is a key cytokine. Therefore, we performed a systematic review to examine the findings regarding TNF-α derived from both animal and human studies of PTSD., Methods: Using PRISMA guidelines, we reviewed relevant articles in PubMed from inception until 11
th April 2017. Human studies that reported group comparisons and/or longitudinal investigations of TNF-α production/concentration were included. Research reporting on TNF-α levels in animal models of PTSD were also included., Results: Twenty-seven articles were identified. Data from human cross-sectional studies suggests that plasma/serum levels of TNF-α are elevated in those with PTSD, as compared to healthy controls. Longitudinal assessments of TNF-α are limited and data are mixed. Limited data from animal studies suggest an increased TNF-α production in the hippocampus of rats following stress, which can be reversed by immunomodulatory drugs., Conclusions: Our findings suggest TNF-α may be a potential biomarker and treatment target for PTSD. Findings need to be considered in light of heterogeneous methods for measurement and analysis of TNF-α concentration. Longitudinal research is needed to understand the role of TNF-α in the development and/or maintenance of PTSD.- Published
- 2017
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