Citation

Coccaro EF, Lee R, Coussons-Read M. J. Neural. Transm. 2014; 122(2): 321-326.

Affiliation

Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, The University of Chicago, 5841 South Maryland Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA, ecoccaro@yoda.bsd.uchicago.edu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s00702-014-1263-6

PMID

25056708

Abstract

C-reactive protein (CRP), in the plasma, serves as a marker of systemic inflammation and has been shown to correlate with history of actual aggressive behavior, and as a personality trait of aggressive tendency, in human subjects. This pilot study was conducted to determine if plasma CRP levels are correlated with cerebrospinal fluid levels (CSF CRP) and if CSF CRP also correlates with aggression. If so, this would suggest a role for central inflammatory processes in human aggression. Both plasma and basal lumbar CSF samples were obtained from 17 subjects with DSM-5 personality disorder and assayed for CRP. Plasma and CSF CRP levels were correlated (r = 0.65, p = 0.005) and each correlated with aggression (Plasma: r = 0.53, p = 0.029; CSF: r = 0.84, p < 0.001). When considered simultaneously, CSF CRP, but not plasma CRP, uniquely correlated with aggression. No relationship was seen with other measures of psychopathology. These data suggest a positive relationship between central nervous system CRP and aggression in humans.

Language: en