The possible effect of inflammation on non-suicidal self-injury in adolescents with depression: a mediator of connectivity within corticostriatal reward circuitry

• DOI: 10.1007/s00787-025-02709-6
• Publication Date: 2025-04-06T00:11:28Z
• Authors: Dan Qiao; Yirun Qi; Xiaoyu Zhang; Yujiao Wen; Yangxi Huang; Yiran Li; Penghong Liu; Gaizhi Li; Zhifen Liu
• Keywords: Ventral striatum

Abstract Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in adolescent depression is a prevalent and clinically significant behavior linked to dysregulated peripheral inflammation corticostriatal circuitry dysfunction. However, the neuroimmune mechanisms bridging these systems remain poorly understood. Here, we combined cytokine profiling with static/dynamic functional connectivity (sFC/dFC) analysis investigate potential influence of inflammaton on circuit related NSSI. A set blood inflammatory markers resting-state magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) were collected NSSI (NSSI+), without (NSSI-), healthy controls (HC). We first ascertain group differences level pro- anti-inflammatory cytokines. And using ventral/dorsal striatal seeds, compared whole-brain, voxel-wise sFC dFC across three groups. Further, tested mediation effects association between frequency. NSSI+ exhibited elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines (C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6) whereas reduced (IL-10), NSSI− HC. Neuroimaging revealed dysconnectivity mainly characterized by static hyperconnectivity dorsal striatum thalamus, dynamic instability striatum-lingual pathways, rigidity ventral striatum-prefrontal/temporal/occipital gyrus circuits. Critically, striatum-thalamus mediated prospective altered CRP frequency, establishing circuits as conduits for By molecular psychiatry neuroscience, this work advances precision management depression, prioritizing biomarker-driven strategies disrupt maladaptation.