Tumour necrosis factor blockade mediates altered serotonin transporter availability in rheumatoid arthritis: a clinical, proof-of-concept study

Jonathan Cavanagh

University of Glasgow

Jonathan Cavanagh is Reader in Psychiatry at the University of Glasgow. Dr Jonathan Cavanagh’s research is focussed on understanding the interplay between immune dysfunction and the neurobiology of stress-related disorder, such as Major Depressive Disorder, and the subsequent impact on health and wellbeing.

There are two themes:

Exploration of the molecular events that subserve Major Depressive Disorder in inflamed patients and the relationship between peripheral inflammation and the brain in animal models of disease.

Exploration of the mechanistic underpinnings of stress-related phenotypes in different populations e.g. those who have had experience of maternal and early life adversity and those in socio-economically deprived circumstances.

Related to these themes is the work Dr Cavanagh does as part of several national multi-centre studies based around neuroimaging technologies and the relationship between physical ill health and Major Depressive Disorder.

A key focus is the on chemokine/cytokine biology as a key component of the pathophysiology of depression in these contexts. Using animal models of inflammatory disease (LPS and Imiquimod), we are exploring the impact of peripheral inflammation on the brain.