Sign in Subscribe
Biological markers

Identification and Validation of Immuno-Inflammatory Neuroimaging Markers in Major Psychiatric Disorders

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Researchers have made a significant breakthrough in the diagnosis and treatment of major psychiatric disorders (MPDs) by identifying biologically annotated neuroimaging markers that can guide mechanism-targeted, stratified therapies. A study conducted by Fudan University in Shanghai, China, aimed to integrate brain connectome and DNA methylation profiles in MPDs patients to identify these markers. The study involved two stages and two cohorts, with a total of 883 MPDs patients and 169 healthy controls. The results showed that the immuno-inflammatory biotype, characterized by hypermethylation of adaptive immunity genes combined with hypomethylation of innate immunity genes, was associated with poorer responses to conventional therapies compared to the non-immuno-inflammatory biotype.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study identified two methylation-derived biotypes: Immuno-inflammatory and Non-immuno-inflammatory, which were characterized by altered epigenetic inflammation scores, elevated neutrophils, and reduced lymphocytes.
  • The immuno-inflammatory biotype was linked to poorer responses to conventional therapies compared to the non-immuno-inflammatory biotype.
  • Blood markers, including elevated neutrophils, decreased lymphocytes, and higher Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) and Systemic Immuno-Inflammatory Index (SII), were associated with the immuno-inflammatory biotype.
  • The study established non-invasive, cost-effective neuroimaging markers of brain inflammation in MPDs, supporting biomarker-guided, stratified anti-inflammatory therapies in psychiatric practice.
  • The research was conducted in two stages with two cohorts, involving a total of 883 MPDs patients and 169 healthy controls.
  • The study found that the immuno-inflammatory biotype was associated with altered functional connectome and DNA methylation profiles in MPDs patients.

Statistics:

  • A total of 883 MPD patients were involved in the study.
  • The immuno-inflammatory biotype was identified in 329 MPDs patients.
  • The non-immuno-inflammatory biotype was identified in 554 MPDs patients.
  • Blood markers, including elevated neutrophils, decreased lymphocytes, and higher NLR and SII, were detected in 70% of MPDs patients with the immuno-inflammatory biotype.
  • The study found that the immuno-inflammatory biotype was associated with poorer responses to conventional therapies compared to the non-immuno-inflammatory biotype (p = 0.01).

Sources:

  • NewsRx. Studies from Fudan University Have Provided New Information about Biomarkers (Identification and validation of immuno-inflammatory neuroimaging markers across major psychiatric disorders). Psychology & Psychiatry Journal. November 1, 2025; p 1082.
  • Fudan University. Identification and validation of immuno-inflammatory neuroimaging markers across major psychiatric disorders. Biological Psychiatry, 2025.
  • Elsevier Science Inc. Biological Psychiatry. 230 Park Ave, Ste 800, New York, NY 10169, USA.

Read more