TY - JOUR
T1 - Cortisol plasma levels in social anxiety disorder patients correlate with serotonin-1A receptor binding in limbic brain regions
AU - Lanzenberger, R.
AU - Wadsak, W.
AU - Spindelegger, C.
AU - Mitterhauser, M.
AU - Akimova, E.
AU - Mien, L.-K.
AU - Fink, M.
AU - Moser, U.
AU - Savli, M.
AU - Kranz, Georg
AU - Hahn, A.
AU - Kletter, K.
AU - Kasper, S.
PY - 2010/10/1
Y1 - 2010/10/1
N2 - Dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis with deficient glucocorticoid feedback and alterations in the serotonergic system have been identified as biological correlates of mood disorders. Close examination of the interaction between these systems may offer insights into the pathophysiology of anxiety disorders and depression to understand how stress and these disorders are related. In this study, we investigated the relationship between plasma levels of cortisol and the dominant inhibitory serotonergic receptor, serotonin-1A (5-HT1A). Using positron emission tomography (PET) and the radioligand [carbonyl-11C]WAY-100635, we quantified the 5-HT1A receptor binding. Data from 12 male patients with social phobia and 18 matched control subjects were analysed. Seven brain regions were investigated: the anterior and posterior cingulate cortices, hippocampus, amygdala, medial orbitofrontal and retrosplenial cortices, and dorsal raphe nucleus. Partial correlation analysis, controlled for age and radiochemical variables, was performed to demonstrate the association between cortisol plasma levels and 5-HT1A receptor binding. Cortisol plasma levels were significantly lower in patients with social phobia compared to healthy controls. Moreover, we found strong negative correlations between cortisol plasma levels and 5-HT1A binding in the amygdala (r=0.93, p=0.0004), hippocampus (r=0.80, p=0.009), and retrosplenial cortex (r=0.48, p=0.04) in patients with social phobia. Within the former two regions, these associations were significantly higher in patients than in healthy controls. This PET study confirms a negative association between plasma cortisol levels and the 5-HT1A receptor distribution consistent with studies in rodents and non-human primates. Dysregulation of the cortisol level might increase the vulnerability for mood disorders by altering limbic 5-HT1A receptors. © 2010 CINP.
AB - Dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis with deficient glucocorticoid feedback and alterations in the serotonergic system have been identified as biological correlates of mood disorders. Close examination of the interaction between these systems may offer insights into the pathophysiology of anxiety disorders and depression to understand how stress and these disorders are related. In this study, we investigated the relationship between plasma levels of cortisol and the dominant inhibitory serotonergic receptor, serotonin-1A (5-HT1A). Using positron emission tomography (PET) and the radioligand [carbonyl-11C]WAY-100635, we quantified the 5-HT1A receptor binding. Data from 12 male patients with social phobia and 18 matched control subjects were analysed. Seven brain regions were investigated: the anterior and posterior cingulate cortices, hippocampus, amygdala, medial orbitofrontal and retrosplenial cortices, and dorsal raphe nucleus. Partial correlation analysis, controlled for age and radiochemical variables, was performed to demonstrate the association between cortisol plasma levels and 5-HT1A receptor binding. Cortisol plasma levels were significantly lower in patients with social phobia compared to healthy controls. Moreover, we found strong negative correlations between cortisol plasma levels and 5-HT1A binding in the amygdala (r=0.93, p=0.0004), hippocampus (r=0.80, p=0.009), and retrosplenial cortex (r=0.48, p=0.04) in patients with social phobia. Within the former two regions, these associations were significantly higher in patients than in healthy controls. This PET study confirms a negative association between plasma cortisol levels and the 5-HT1A receptor distribution consistent with studies in rodents and non-human primates. Dysregulation of the cortisol level might increase the vulnerability for mood disorders by altering limbic 5-HT1A receptors. © 2010 CINP.
KW - 5-HT1A
KW - Cortisol
KW - PET
KW - SAD
KW - serotonin
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77957234123&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1017/S1461145710000581
DO - 10.1017/S1461145710000581
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 20519060
VL - 13
SP - 1129
EP - 1143
JO - International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology
JF - International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology
SN - 1461-1457
IS - 9
ER -