Biology subjects

Robinson-Papp, J.

Publications and source records attributed to Robinson-Papp, J..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Distinct Hippocampal Cellular Pathologies Influence Cognition Across Diagnostic Categories, also distinguishing Schizophrenia from Affective Psychoses

Introduction: Total and social cognition deficits independently predict functioning in psychosis, but targeting these in clinical trials are unsuccessful in improving function. The admixture of schizophrenia and affective psychoses cases could be a roadblock if these differ in cellular pathology. Methods: We examined cognitive functioning (MATRICS) and hippocampal cellular pathologies based on metabolite biomarker concentrations (1H-MRSI), using categorical and transdiagnostic classifications in 80 participants: 22 non-psychotic affective disorder (NP-aff), 25 healthy controls (HC), and 33 with psychosis (Psy), including 20 schizophrenia and 13 affective psychoses (aff-P) cases. Results: NP-aff and HC had similar total cognition (46.64{+/-}12.01 vs 41.10{+/-}17.88), both superior to Psy (28.34{+/-} 12.34; p's<0.01). Mean metabolite concentrations were similar across all groups but showed significant within-group associations to cognitive tests. For HC, total cognition, working memory and reasoning deficits were associated with reduced neuronal integrity (-.414, -.422, -.433, p's<.05), although no biomarker predicted total cognition in the clinical groups. FFor NP-aff, elevated myelin/membrane concentrations accompanied cognitive deficits; significantly so for visual learning deficits (.446, p<.05), which were also associated with decreased glia (-.503, p<.05). Opposite NP-aff, reduced myelin/membrane concentrations predicted cognitive deficits in Psy (-.514, p<.05). Separating schizophrenia from aff-P on social cognition showed reduced glutamate/excitation in schizophrenia (-.673, p<.05) ibut higher myelin/membrane turnover and neuronal integrity concentrations in aff-P (.575, .581, p's<.05). Conclusions: Schizophrenia and affective psychosis significantly differed for biomarkers of cellular pathology related to social cognition. Distinctly different underpinnings for cognition were also identified for other groups, aligning with DSM-5 and ICD disorder based categories. These findings include support for heterogeneous, but not transdiagnostic, conceptualizations of cognition and psychosis.

pathology↗

bioRxiv2026

Do Symptom Domains Have Similar Cellular Underpinnings Across Psychiatric Diagnoses: Evidence from 3D Hippocampal MR Spectroscopy

Introduction: The NIMH Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) posits similar cellular pathologies for particular symptom domains across diagnostic categories. Conversely, knowledge that these differ could advance treatment discovery, especially for affective and non-affective psychoses, as studies usually intermix them. Methods: We tested this by comparing metabolite biomarker concentrations for cellular pathologies from whole hippocampal proton magnetic spectroscopic imaging (1H MRSI) with symptoms from the original and five factor PANSS, and the Hamilton Depression and Young Mania Scales. Participants were 26 healthy controls; 22 non-psychotic affective cases (NP-aff); and 33 with psychosis (including 20 schizophrenia (Scz) and 13 affective psychosis (aff-P) cases). Results: PANSS activation factor was related to reductions in all cellular component biomarkers in Scz, including glia, membrane turnover, neural integrity, glutaminergic neurotransmission, and energy metabolism (p's<.05), but only to energy metabolism in NP-aff (p=.03). Biomarkers for mood symptoms also varied across categories, suggesting gliosis for mania and depression in HC (p's[≤].025), but increased membrane turnover for mania in aff-P (p=.015), and decreased neural integrity and energy metabolism for depression in Scz (p's<.05). In contrast, negative symptoms and autistic preoccupation were related to reduced glia in both NP-aff and aff-P (p's<.05). Autistic preoccupation in Scz was related to both reduced glia and membrane turnover (p's<.05). Only Scz showed a significant finding for positive symptoms, specifically reduced membrane turnover (p=.018). Discussion: These results suggest both distinct and similar cellular pathologies for symptoms across diagnoses, including affective and non-affective psychoses. The differences support categorizing disorders and stratifying different psychoses in research rather than transdiagnostic approaches.

pathology↗

bioRxiv2024

The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)-Immune Network in People Living With HIV

PurposePre-clinical studies have demonstrated direct influences of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) on the immune system. However, it remains unclear if ANS-immune connections delineated in pre-clinical studies underlie the relationship between autonomic dysregulation and chronic inflammatory diseases in patients with HIV. This study had three aims: 1.) Examine the relationship between IL-6 and the parasympathetic/vagal component of baroreflex sensitivity (BRS-V) in people with HIV; 2.) Determine if the subtype and severity of HIV-autonomic neuropathy (AN) would predict distinct immunotypes; 3.) Compare the burden of non-AIDS-related co-morbidities between immunotypes. Methods79 adults with well-controlled HIV underwent a standard battery of autonomic function tests summarized as the Composite Autonomic Severity Score and vagal and adrenergic baroreflex sensitivity (BRS-V and BRS-A).1 Levels of immune biomarkers were measured in all participants using the Target 96 Inflammation Panel on the Olink proteomics platform and immunotypes were identified using unbiased, non-negative matrix factorization. Mass cytometry (CyTOF) was completed on a subset of participants with and without autonomic neuropathy (N = 10). ResultsReduced BRS-V predicted higher levels of IL-6 (p=0.002). A pro-inflammatory immunotype defined by elevations in type 1 cytokines (IL-6, IL-17) and increased numbers of CD8+ T-cells was associated with autonomic neuropathy characterized by deficits in sympathetic nervous system activity (aOR=4.7, p=0.017). This pro-inflammatory immunotype was older with a greater burden of co-morbidities. ConclusionDeficits in the parasympathetic/cardiovagal and the sympathetic nervous system are associated with inflammation and disease burden in people living with HIV. Future longitudinal research is needed to examine causality.

immunology↗