Relation of ASC and IL-1beta with neurocognitive parameters in patients with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Abstract

Objective: It is now well accepted that inflammatory processes play a role in the etiopathogenesis of psychiatric disorders. NLRP3 inflammasome, which is formed by the combination of NLRP3, ASC and Caspase-1 proteins, and its activator NEK7, takes part in these processes. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between inflammatory markers (i.e. IL-1β, IL-18, NLRP3 inflammasome protein levels) and cognitive functions in patients with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Method: Forty-two patients between the ages of 18-45 who were diagnosed with OCD were included in the study. Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-I), Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), and Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) were used for clinical evaluations. In order to evaluate cognitive functions, Trail Making Test (TMT), Berg Card Sorting Test and Category Fluency Test were applied. IL-1β and IL-18 cytokine levels were determined by the ELISA method; measurement of the protein amounts of NLRP3, Caspase-1, ASC and NEK7 were performed by Western blotting. Results: Serum IL-1beta was negatively correlated with TMT (B-A) (rs=-.36, p= 0.019). Similarly, ASC was negatively correlated with TMT-B and TMT (B-A) (rs=-.38, p= 0.03; rs=-0.36, p = 0.04, respectively). However, no statistically significant relationship was found between other inflammatory parameters (NLRP3, Caspase-1, and IL-18) and neurocognitive tests. Discussion: Our results indicate that some aspects of neurocognitive impairment in patients with OCD might be related to neuroinflammatory processes, with implications for our understanding of the pathogenesis of OCD.