B3769 - Investigating inflammation as a targetable mechanism in depression suicide and self-harm - 04/05/2021

B number: 
B3769
Principal applicant name: 
Hannah J Jones | University of Bristol (United Kingdom)
Co-applicants: 
Professor Golam Khandaker, Professor Stan Zammit, Dr Jon Heron, Professor Caroline Relton, Dr Carol Joinson, Dr Becky Mars, Professor Robert Yolken
Title of project: 
Investigating inflammation as a targetable mechanism in depression, suicide and self-harm
Proposal summary: 

Depression is common, devastating, disabling, and a major risk factor for suicide. About a third of individuals with depression are unresponsive to antidepressant treatment, suggesting that other mechanisms are involved in the onset and progression of the disorder. Emerging evidence implicates inflammation as a risk factor for depression and suicidal behaviour. However, little is known about the role inflammation plays in causing or worsening these mental health outcomes. As such, we aim to investigate whether inflammation represents a relevant and therapeutically targetable mechanism for depression and suicidal behaviour in young people.

Using repeated measures of inflammation (taken from blood samples collected over time), we will first define robust patterns of inflammation during childhood and adolescence in ALSPAC. Second, we will test whether early-life risk factors associated with both depression and suicidal behaviour, specifically adversity during childhood, infection, and timing of puberty, relate to patterns of inflammation during adolescence. Third, we will investigate if inflammation mediates the relationship between these early-life risk factors and depression, self-harm and suicide in young people.

Findings from this research will inform whether inflammation could be a target for treatment, prediction and prevention of depression, self-harm and suicidal behaviour in young people.

Impact of research: 
This research will improve our understanding of the role of early-life stressors in priming patterns of inflammation during childhood and adolescence, as well as the impact of these patterns on later mental-health outcomes. The longitudinal inflammatory patterns derived by this study may serve as a useful resource for other researchers interested in inflammation levels during the life-course. More specifically, findings from this research will inform whether inflammation could be a target for treatment, prediction and prevention of depression, self-harm and suicidal behaviour in young people. Findings could be used to direct future work investigating characteristics of inflammation-related depression and clinical trials of immuno-modulating therapies for depression and suicidal behaviour.
Date proposal received: 
Wednesday, 28 April, 2021
Date proposal approved: 
Tuesday, 4 May, 2021
Keywords: 
Epidemiology, Infection, Mental health, Inflammation, Statistical methods, Childhood - childcare, childhood adversity, Epigenetics, Immunity, Statistical methods