Title:High Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein as a Potential Biomarker of Neuroinflammation in Major Psychiatric Disorders
Volume: 14
Issue: 2
Author(s): Giordano Padovan, Rosa Preteroti, Beatrice Bortolato, Maria Magdalini Papaioannou, Giada Piva and Gianna Magnolfi*
Affiliation:
- Psychiatric Clinic, Neuroscience Department, Padua University Medical School, Via N. Giustiniani, 1-35135 Padova,Italy
Keywords:
C-reactive protein (CRP), inflammation, mental disorders, suicide, anti-inflammatory agents, schizophrenia.
Abstract: Background: The bidirectional relationship between psychiatric disorders and immune
dysregulation has been increasingly documented. Moreover, most major mental diseases are notoriously
associated with higher prevalence of cardiovascular and metabolic comorbidities. C-Reactive
Protein (CRP) emerged as a crucial biomarker in the stratification of cardiovascular risk.
Objectives: Reviewing the recent literature upon: neuroinflammation in mood and schizophrenic
disorders, the potential use of HSCRP as an inflammatory biomarker in psychiatric
disorders and its possible use for the stratification of risk.
Method: The authors conducted a MedLine/PubMed search of all articles up to January 2017 using
five keywords. The search was supplemented with a manual review of relevant references. Evidences
assessing the relationship between CRP plasma levels and psychiatric disorders have been
reviewed.
Result: Elevated High-Sensitivity CRP (HSCRP) plasma levels have been reported specially in
mood disorders, mainly in mania and in a subset of patients with Depression. Childhood trauma and
suicidal behaviour represent factors that increase illness vulnerability and influence immune responses.
The complex interaction amongst immune and endocrine systems, metabolic parameters
and psychopharmacological effects enhance difficulty in understanding the directionality of this
relationship.
Conclusion: The heterogeneity of findings provided by research could suggest the presence of
genetically determined or epigenetic factors in a subgroup of individuals who react to stress factors
with an inflammatory hyperactivation. HSCRP could represent a useful biomarker to identify patients
with greater risk to develop medical comorbidities that could benefit from anti-inflammatory
treatments.
