357 Inflammatory Cytokines and Neurocognitive Functioning in Bipolar Patients across Mood Episodes

Abstract

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Accumulating evidence supports the involvement of immune and inflammatory pathways in Bipolar Disorder (BD) pathophysiology. This pilot study aims to determine if altered peripheral IL-2, TNF-a, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IFN-y, IL-17A levels are associated with BD across mood episodes (euthymic, manic, depressive), and worsen neurocognitive function. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Twenty-eight participants (17 cases and 11 controls) were recruited. We assessed the clinical features and cytokine plasma levels of participants. Cytokines were measured using Flow Cytometry. All subjects were interviewed by a trained psychiatrist. Each participant was fasting before the blood sample was taken. Neuropsychological tests were used to measure verbal fluency, speed processing, working memory/attention, visuospatial skills, verbal learning, executive functions, and motor skills. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate the demographic characteristics of the sample. An independent-sample Kruskal-Wallis Test and Mann-Whitney Test were carried out using SPSS version 21. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Serum biomarker concentration showed a decrease in levels of IL-4 (anti-inflammatory) in BD patients vs healthy controls (p < .05). There was a major concentration of IL-6 (pro-inflammatory) on bipolar patients vs controls (p = .003). When we analyze the results with the mood episodes, we found that patients with bipolar depression showed decreased levels of IL-4 (p = .046) and increase levels of IL-6 (p = .020) in comparison to the manic or euthymic episodes. In the neurocognitive tests, we found that the control participants had better performance in the working memory domain (p = .038) and also in the general performance (p = .036) in comparison to bipolar patients. We found also a positive significant correlation between IL-4 and verbal learning in the control sample (.829, p = .003). DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: The findings evidence a significant immune activation in bipolar patients, in particular during the depressive episode. Participants with BD have a decrease in the protective levels of IL-4 combined with high levels of IL-6 when compared to healthy controls. Worse neurocognitive functioning was found in bipolar patients.