Experimental human endotoxemia enhances brain activity during social cognition

Jennifer S Kullmann; Jan-Sebastian Grigoleit; Oliver T Wolf; Harald Engler; Reiner Oberbeck; Sigrid Elsenbruch; Michael Forsting; Manfred Schedlowski; Elke R Gizewski

doi:10.1093/scan/nst049

Experimental human endotoxemia enhances brain activity during social cognition

Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci. 2014 Jun;9(6):786-93. doi: 10.1093/scan/nst049. Epub 2013 Apr 1.

Authors

Jennifer S Kullmann¹, Jan-Sebastian Grigoleit², Oliver T Wolf², Harald Engler², Reiner Oberbeck², Sigrid Elsenbruch², Michael Forsting², Manfred Schedlowski³, Elke R Gizewski¹

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Medical Psychology and Behavioral Immunobiology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45122 Essen, Germany, Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Essen, 45122 Essen, Germany, Department of Cognitive Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, 44780 Bochum, Germany, Department of Trauma Surgery, University Hospital Essen, 45122 Essen, Germany, and University Hospital of Neuroradiology, Innsbruck Medical University, 6020 Innsbruck, AustriaInstitute of Medical Psychology and Behavioral Immunobiology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45122 Essen, Germany, Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Essen, 45122 Essen, Germany, Department of Cognitive Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, 44780 Bochum, Germany, Department of Trauma Surgery, University Hospital Essen, 45122 Essen, Germany, and University Hospital of Neuroradiology, Innsbruck Medical University, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
² Institute of Medical Psychology and Behavioral Immunobiology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45122 Essen, Germany, Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Essen, 45122 Essen, Germany, Department of Cognitive Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, 44780 Bochum, Germany, Department of Trauma Surgery, University Hospital Essen, 45122 Essen, Germany, and University Hospital of Neuroradiology, Innsbruck Medical University, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
³ Institute of Medical Psychology and Behavioral Immunobiology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45122 Essen, Germany, Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Essen, 45122 Essen, Germany, Department of Cognitive Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, 44780 Bochum, Germany, Department of Trauma Surgery, University Hospital Essen, 45122 Essen, Germany, and University Hospital of Neuroradiology, Innsbruck Medical University, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria manfred.schedlowski@uk-essen.de.

Abstract

Acute peripheral inflammation with corresponding increases in peripheral cytokines affects neuropsychological functions and induces depression-like symptoms. However, possible effects of increased immune responses on social cognition remain unknown. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of experimentally induced acute inflammation on performance and neural responses during a social cognition task assessing Theory of Mind (ToM) ability. In this double-blind randomized crossover functional magnetic resonance imaging study, 18 healthy right-handed male volunteers received an injection of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 0.4 ng/kg) or saline, respectively. Plasma levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines as well as mood ratings were analyzed together with brain activation during a validated ToM task (i.e. Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test). LPS administration induced pronounced transient increases in pro- (IL-6, TNF-α) and anti-inflammatory (IL-10, IL-1ra) cytokines as well as decreases in mood. Social cognition performance was not affected by acute inflammation. However, altered neural activity was observed during the ToM task after LPS administration, reflected by increased responses in the fusiform gyrus, temporo-parietal junction, superior temporal gyrus and precuneus. The increased task-related neural responses in the LPS condition may reflect a compensatory strategy or a greater social cognitive processing as a function of sickness.

Keywords: cytokines; endotoxin; fMRI; peripheral inflammation; social cognition.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Acute Disease
Adult
Affect / physiology
Brain / physiopathology*
Brain Mapping
Cognition / physiology*
Cross-Over Studies
Cytokines / blood
Double-Blind Method
Emotions / physiology
Endotoxemia / physiopathology*
Facial Expression
Healthy Volunteers
Humans
Lipopolysaccharides
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Neuroimmunomodulation / physiology*
Random Allocation
Social Perception*
Theory of Mind / physiology*
Visual Perception / physiology

Substances

Cytokines
Lipopolysaccharides