INSINUATIONS OF LIPID PEROXIDATION AND INFLAMMATORY CYTOKINES-INTERLEUKINS AND MATRIX METALLOPROTEINASES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER

Abstract

Background: Some psychiatric diseases have been linked to the pathophysiology of free radicals. We sought to determine whether levels of interleukin (IL)-6, antioxidant vitamins E, C, and A, and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-4 and 9 were linked to OCD, in order to investigate the role of free radicals in the etiopathogenesis of OCD.

Methodology: In this study, 48 OCD patients with DSM-IV diagnoses and 48 healthy volunteers served as the control group. While vitamin C was assessed using the phenyl-hydrazine spectrophotometric technique, the serum levels of vitamins E and A were measured using RP-HPLC. ELISA technique was used to assess MMP-2 and MMP-9 and IL-6 levels. AGEs and AOPPs were measured using the UV-vis spectrophotometric method.

Results: In comparison to the control group, Vitamin E levels (p=0.02), vitamin C levels (p=0.15), and vitamin A levels (p=0.25) in both males and females were all significantly lower in the patients than in the control group. In later stages of OCD, antioxidants may reverse because of compensating mechanisms in brain cells. IL-6 levels were also measured, and they were shown to be considerably higher in OCD patients than in control groups (p=0.00). Subjects had significantly higher concentrations of protein oxidation products [AGEs (p=0.00) and AOPPs (p=0.00)] than the control group. Additionally, the levels of MMP-2 (p=0.02) and MMP-9 (p=0.16) were also significantly raised in both male and female patients of OCD.

Conclusion: This indicates that elevated MMP-2 and 9 levels are mediated by elevated IL-6 levels brought on by excessive lipid peroxidation, which encourages the development of OCD. According to a subsequent study, lipid peroxidation, matrix metalloproteinases, interleukins, and increased oxidative and inflammatory status are the main factors for obsessive-compulsive disorder to progress.