Frontiers in Psychiatry (Jan 2025)

Brain function abnormalities and inflammation in HIV-positive men who have sex with men with depressive disorders

  • Yang Zhang,
  • Yang Zhang,
  • Yihui He,
  • Yihui He,
  • Yuan Fang,
  • Yuan Fang,
  • Miaotian Cai,
  • Guangqiang Sun,
  • Guangqiang Sun,
  • Rui Wang,
  • Rui Wang,
  • Jiaxin Zhen,
  • Jiaxin Zhen,
  • Yulin Zhang,
  • Zhen Li,
  • Zhen Li,
  • Yundong Ma,
  • Yundong Ma,
  • Tong Zhang,
  • Tong Zhang

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1438085
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 15

Abstract

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BackgroundDepressive disorders are highly prevalent among people with HIV (PWH) and are related to aberrant inflammation and immune responses. However, there is currently a lack of investigation into the neurological, inflammatory, endocrine, and immune aspects of HIV-associated depressive disorders (HADD).MethodsThe study involved 33 HIV-positive men who have sex with men with depressive disorders (HADD group) and 47 without neuropsychiatric disorders (HIV control group). Participants underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) scans and assessments of peripheral blood. Peripheral blood cytokines, plasma concentrations of hormone and neurotrophic factors, and immune cell levels were determined using liquid chip, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and flow cytometry, respectively. The correlation of imaging alterations with clinical variables and peripheral blood indicators was assessed.ResultsCompared to the HIV control group, the HADD group exhibited a higher fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations in the left superior parietal gyrus, lower regional homogeneity in the left precentral gyrus, and reduced voxel-wise functional connectivity for the seed region in the right precentral gyrus with clusters in the right cuneus, etc. Furthermore, the HADD group had higher levels of interferon-gamma, a higher frequency of non-classical monocytes, and higher expression levels of perforin and CD38 on specific cells. These imaging results were significantly correlated with peripheral blood indicators and clinical variables.ConclusionThis rs-fMRI study provides considerable evidence for abnormal intrinsic brain activity in people with HADD. Furthermore, our data also indicate the detrimental effects of depression-related inflammation on PWH. Therefore, it is imperative to increase attention to HADD and implement effective preventive interventions accordingly.

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