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A08: The metabolic lung-brain axis in aggressive behavior in patients with AMD

Beta-hydroxy-butyrate (BHB), a ketone body, is negatively associated with aggressive behavior. BHB is a metabolite and an active signaling substrate involved in epigenetic regulation of e.g., neurotrophic factor genes in the brain. Of the three main ketone bodies, acetone, acetoacetate and BHB, acetone is a very volatile compound, mainly eliminated through respiration, thus can be measured non-invasively in breath. A reduction of acetone in breath has been found to highly correlate with BHB in blood and be associated with symptom severity in schizophrenia (Jiang et al. 2022). Using MR spectroscopy, A08 aims to (1) identify whether acetone and other volatile organic compounds in breath are associated with aggression and acute threat processing in mental disorders and (2) to examine whether these breath markers are associated with direct metabolic brain correlates (like BHB, glutamate) and with the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in plasma. In a translational approach, (3) we will test if supplementation of BHB reduces aggressive behavior in mice.

Contributors

Gabriele Ende

A03: Modulation of aggression by acute threat A08: The metabolic lung-brain axis in aggressive behavior in patients with AMD Q02: Data management for computational modelling Principal investigator Research data committee member Quality control group member Heidelberg University Central Institute of Mental Health
Gabriele Ende is a researcher associated with the Central Institute of Mental Health (ZI) in Mannheim, Germany. Her work primarily focuses on neuroimaging and the application of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in psychiatric and neurological disorders.

Thomas Frodl

A08: The metabolic lung-brain axis in aggressive behavior in patients with AMD Q01: Recruitment and biotyping transdiagnostic risk mechanisms for aggressive behaviors in mental disorders across the life span Principal investigator Citizen Advisory Boad RWTH Aachen
Thomas Frodl is a prominent neuroscientist and psychiatrist affiliated with RWTH Aachen University in Germany. His research focuses on the neurobiological underpinnings of psychiatric disorders, particularly depression and anxiety. Frodl employs advanced neuroimaging techniques to investigate brain structure and function, aiming to understand the mechanisms that contribute to these conditions.

David Slattery

A07: The intestinal microbiota as a regulator of aggressive and impulsive behavior A08: The metabolic lung-brain axis in aggressive behavior in patients with AMD C01: Gene-environment interactions and the role of impulsivity in responding to acute threats: early life stress and escalated aggression in recombinant inbred mouse strains Q03: Integrated Research Training Group (RTG) Principal investigator Research training group (RTG) committee member Public relations team member Citizen Advisory Boad Goethe University Frankfurt
Professor David Slattery is interested in understanding of the neurobiology and treatment of stress-related disorders; with an emphasis on mood and anxiety disorders. A particular focus is the study postpartum mood and anxiety disorders using stress- and diet-based models in rodents, as well as:

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Publications

A mechanism-based group psychotherapy approach to aggressive behavior (MAAP) in borderline personality disorder: a multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial

A02: Context effects on threat processing in dependence of testosterone levels B04: Investigating psychological and neural correlates of intimate partner violence A07: The intestinal microbiota as a regulator of aggressive and impulsive behavior A08: The metabolic lung-brain axis in aggressive behavior in patients with AMD B01: Neurobehavioral effects of repetitive prefrontal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on pathological aggression C06: Brain mechanisms differentiating aggressive vs. non-aggressive psychopathology as sequelae of early life maltreatment Interaction of negative valence system and cognitive system
High levels of trait anger and aggressive behavior are common and problematic phenomena in patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD). In BPD, patterns of reactive aggression often lead to functional impairment affecting important areas of life.