Plasma circulating cell-free mitochondrial DNA in social anxiety disorder

Daniel Lindqvist, Tomas Furmark, Catharina Lavebratt, Lars Ohlsson, Kristoffer N T Månsson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate plasma levels of circulating cell-free mitochondrial DNA (ccf-mtDNA) in patients with social anxiety disorder (SAD) and healthy controls (HC).

METHODS: In this study, 88 participants (46 patients with SAD and 42 HCs) were enrolled and both ccf-mtDNA and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) mtDNA copy number (mtDNA-cn) were measured at up to three times per individual (9-11 weeks apart). SAD patients also received cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) between the second and third time-point.

RESULTS: SAD patients had significantly lower ccf-mtDNA compared to HCs at all time points, but ccf-mtDNA did not change significantly after CBT, and was not associated with severity of anxiety symptoms. Plasma ccf-mtDNA did not significantly correlate with PBMC mtDNA-cn in patients.

CONCLUSION: This is the first report of lower ccf-mtDNA in patients with an anxiety disorder. Our findings could reflect a more chronic illness course in SAD patients with prolonged periods of psychological stress leading to decreased levels of ccf-mtDNA, but future longitudinal studies are needed to confirm or refute this hypothesis.

Original languageEnglish
Article number106001
Pages (from-to)1-5
JournalPsychoneuroendocrinology
Volume148
Early online date2022 Dec 7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023 Feb

Bibliographical note

Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Subject classification (UKÄ)

  • Gastroenterology and Hepatology

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