IL-1β and IL-6 levels linked to development of obsessive compulsive disorder, suggests study

A new study published in the Public Library of Science unveiled a link between serum IL-1β and IL-6 levels and the etiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Obsessive-compulsive disorder equates to a global prevalence of 2% to 3%. The hallmarks of OCD are ritualized, repeated behavioral or mental acts (compulsions) that follow recurrent, unwelcome, intrusive thoughts, feelings, urges or ideas (obsessions) that magnify concerns about danger, harm, or cleanliness. The biological, genetic, environmental and immunological variables are only a few of the many etiological elements that contribute to OCD. And now, SSRIs, TCAs, SNRIs and dopamine antagonists are available as treatments for OCD. In addition to these pharmaceutical treatments, cognitive-behavioral therapy is often used as the non-pharmacological treatment for OCD. There may be a possible connection between the pathophysiology of OCD and immunological dysregulation, according to the outcomes of this study. 

30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs) and 50 OCD patients were enrolled in this study where a licensed psychiatrist used the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Health Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) criteria to diagnose OCD patients and evaluate HCs. After applying the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), this research assessed the severity of OCD. Also, ELISA kits were used to test serum levels of IL-1β and IL-6 using the recommended procedures.

The key findings of this study were:

The findings demonstrated that the serum IL-1β levels of OCD patients were much higher than the of healthy controls.

Also, the serum IL-6 levels in OCD patients were considerably higher than in healthy controls.

The Y-BOCS scores of OCD patients showed a positive correlation with both cytokines which suggested a potential involvement of both cytokines in the pathophysiology of this disorder.

The outcomes of this study highlight the complex connection between the pathophysiology of OCD and dysregulated inflammatory responses. The elevated levels of IL-1β and IL-6 in the serum showed a reliable relationship with OCD severity. Therefore, serum levels of IL-1β and IL-6 may provide useful blood-based biomarkers for estimating the risk of OCD. By expanding the existing knowledge of immune-mediated pathways in OCD, this research creates new opportunities for investigation and advancements in treatment.

Reference: 

Sarmin, N., Roknuzzaman, A. S. M., Sarker, R., Rashid, M.-, Hasan, A., Qusar, M. M. A. S., Kabir, E. R., Islam, Md. R., & Mahmud, Z. A. (2024). Exploring the role of interleukin-1β and interleukin-6 in the pathophysiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder. In M. Koronyo-Hamaoui (Ed.), PLOS ONE (Vol. 19, Issue 6, p. e0306125). Public Library of Science (PLoS). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0306125