The relationship between interleukin-6 and functional connectivity in methamphetamine users. (11th June 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kohno, Milky; Loftis, Jennifer M.; Huckans, Marilyn; Dennis, Laura E.; McCready, Holly; Hoffman, William F.
• Is Part Of: Neuroscience letters. Volume 677(2018)
• Page Start: 49
• Page End: 54
• Publication Date: 2018-06-11
• Subjects: IL-6 -- Inflammation -- Resting-state functional connectivity -- Methamphetamine -- Corticostriatal -- Mesocorticolimbic; Neurology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Research -- Periodicals; Neurologie -- Périodiques; Neuroanatomie -- Périodiques; Neuropharmacologie -- Périodiques; Neurophysiologie -- Périodiques; Neurology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 617.48
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2018.04.037
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0304-3940

Abstract

Highlights: Interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels are higher in methamphetamine (MA) users than in controls. Relationships between functional connectivity (FC) and IL-6 differ by group. Striatolimbic FC and IL-6: positively related in MA users but negatively in controls. Corticostriatal FC and IL-6: unrelated in controls and negatively related in MA users. Abstract: Methamphetamine (MA) causes an increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines in animal models and in humans. Resulting activation of microglia and neuro-inflammation could, via effects on reward networks, mediate behavioral characteristics of addiction. We examined the relationship between interleukin-6 (IL-6) and corticolimbic and striatolimbic resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC). Thirty adults diagnosed with MA dependence and 20 control subjects underwent a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scan and gave a blood sample for determination of plasma IL-6 levels. Seed-based RSFC analyses were performed to examine the interactive effect of group and IL-6 on ventral striatal and prefrontal connectivity. Within the MA group, IL-6 levels were positively related to striatolimbic RSFC but negatively related to corticostriatal RSFC. Our findings with IL-6 support the idea that inflammation may at least partly mediate the link among MA use disorder, RSFC, and behavior, possibly via effects on mesolimbic and mesocortical dopaminergic systems.