MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit (IEU) Seminar Series

Title: Role of Inflammation in Depression and Schizophrenia: from mechanisms towards treatment

Abstract: There is evidence of low-grade systemic inflammation in depression and psychosis, but causality has not been established. Concentrations of acute phase proteins (e.g. CRP) and inflammatory cytokines (e.g. IL-6) in peripheral blood and cerebrospinal fluid are elevated in acutely unwell patients, but it is unclear whether this is a result of illness (i.e. reverse causality) or due to confounding by life style and other known/unknown factors. I will present data from population-based longitudinal studies and Mendelian randomization studies that focused on these key methodological issues using ALSPAC and other population-representative cohorts/datasets. These studies suggest that inflammation, particularly the IL-6/IL-6R pathway, could be causally linked with depression and schizophrenia. In addition, I will present recent work suggesting inflammation could be a shared mechanism for comorbid mental and physical illness, such as depression and cardiovascular disease. Finally, I will discuss clinical relevance for immunopsychiatry research in depression and psychosis. I will present recent meta-analysis of antidepressant effect of novel anti-inflammatory drugs. I will present an ongoing RCT of an anti-IL6R monoclonal antibody for depression that has been informed by the population-based approaches mentioned above.

Biography: Dr Golam Khandaker is Wellcome Trust Intermediate Clinical Fellow at the University of Cambridge Department of Psychiatry, where he leads the Inflammation and Psychiatry (InPsych) group (www.immunopsychiatry.com). He is honorary consultant psychiatrist at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust. Golam completed his medical training in Bangladesh, psychiatry training in Bristol and Cambridge, and Masters in epidemiology, PhD and postdoctoral research training in Cambridge. Funded by the Wellcome trust, his group examines potential role of inflammation (measured by cytokines, genes and peripheral immune cells) in depression and schizophrenia using epidemiological and experimental medicine approaches. He has received awards from the International Early Psychosis Association (2014), Schizophrenia International Research Society (2015), and the NIHR UK (2017). He is former executive committee member for RCPsych Academic Faculty (2014-’18). He is editorial board member for Brain, Behavior and Immunity [IF 6.3].

All welcome