Lena Brundin Laboratory
Overview
Behavioral Medicine
The research in the laboratory investigates how inflammation in the periphery and the central nervous system can give rise to symptoms of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts/behavior. Inflammation, which can be induced by a variety of causes, generates a cascade of cytokines, chemokines and metabolites that have intricate effects on neurons and other cells in the brain. The details of the effects of inflammation on the central nervous system are just beginning to be understood. In our studies, we look for inflammatory changes associated with symptoms of depression in psychiatric patients, and we seek to confirm our findings in animal models. The ultimate goal is to find novel therapeutic strategies targeting inflammation that improve treatment outcomes for depression and suicidal tendencies.

Recent News & Featured Publications
Learn More
Blood markers can predict depression in pregnancy

Seven facts about the human brain

Bile acids may play previously unknown role in Parkinson’s
Labrie V, Brundin L. Harbingers of mental illness—infections associated with an increased risk for neuropsychiatric illness in children. JAMA Psych.
Bay-Richter C et al. A role for inflammatory metabolites as modulators of the glutamate N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor in depression and suicidality. Brain Behav Immun.
Brundin L et al. The role of inflammation in suicidal behaviour. Acta Psychiatr Scand.
Lindqvist D et al. Cerebrospinal fluid inflammatory markers in Parkinson’s disease–associations with depression, fatigue, and cognitive impairment. Brain Behav Immun.
Grudet C et al. Suicidal patients are deficient in vitamin D, associated with a pro-inflammatory status in the blood. Psychoneuroendocrinology.
Zhang Y et al. Toxoplasma gondii immunoglobulin G antibodies and nonfatal suicidal self-directed violence. J Clin Psychiatry.
Our Impact
We’re raising thousands to save millions.
We’re turning hope into action for the millions of people around the world affected by diseases like cancer and Parkinson’s. Find out how you can help us make a difference.
- 171 studies published from Nov. 1, 2020 to Oct. 1, 2021
- 68 studies in high-impact journals from Nov. 1, 2020-Oct. 1, 2021
- 41 clinical trials launched
Lena Brundin, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Neurodegenerative Science
Areas of Expertise
Depression, suicide, inflammation, glutamate, perinatal depression, clinical studies, translational research
Biography
Dr. Lena Brundin earned her Ph.D. in neurobiology and her M.D. from Lund University, Sweden, where she specialized in clinical psychiatry and later attained the rank of associate professor. In 2012, she joined Van Andel Institute and Michigan State University College of Human Medicine in Grand Rapids, Mich. She is currently a professor in the Institute’s Department for Neurodegenerative Science.
Dr. Brundin’s research spans basic and clinical research, and focuses on the role of inflammatory mediators in psychiatric and neurological conditions, particularly the effects of the kynurenine metabolic pathway in depression and Parkinson’s disease. Her studies were among the first to indicate a role for inflammatory cytokines in suicidality, a finding that one day may help develop biomarkers for depression and suicide risk. She is currently the principal investigator on an R01-funded clinical trial that investigates the role of the kynurenine pathway in depressive patients with suicide risk. She also analyzes the potential of these metabolites as biomarkers and modulators of disease progression in Parkinson’s disease, funded by the Michael J. Fox Foundation. Further, she pursues studies aimed at identifying triggers of these disorders, such as bacterial, parasitic and viral infections.
Selected Publications
George S, Tyson T, Rey NL, Sheridan R, Peelaerts W, Becker K, Schulz E, Meyerdirk L, Burmeister AR, von Linstow CU, Steiner JA, Escobar Galvis ML, Ma J, Pospisilik JA, Labrie V, Brundin L, Brundin P. 2021. T cells limit accumulation of aggregate pathology following intrastratial injection of a-synuclein fibrils. J Park Dis. 11(2):585–603.
Bacelis J, Compagno M, George S, Pospisilik A, Brundin P, Torinsson A, Brundin L. 2021. Decreased risk of Parkinson’s disease after rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis: a nested case-control study with matched cases and controls. J Parkinson’s Dis.
Li P, Killinger BA, Ensink E, Beddows I, Yilmaz A, Lubben N, Lamp J, Schilthuis M, Vega IE, Woltjer R, Pospisilik JA, Brundin P, Brundin L, Graham SF, Labrie V. 2021. Gut microbiota dysbiosis is associated with elevated bile acids in Parkinson’s disease. Metabolites 11(1):29.
Sha Q, Achtyes E, Nagalla M, Keaton A, Smart L, Leach R, Brundin L. 2021. Associations between estrogen and progesterone, the kynurenine pathway, and inflammation in the post-partum. J Affect Dis 281:9–12.
George S, Rey NL, Tyson T, Esquibel C, Meyerdirk L, Schulz E, Pierce S, Burmeister AR, Madaj Z, Steiner JA, Escobar Galvis ML, Brundin L, Brundin P. 2019. Microglia affect alpha-synuclein cell-to-cell transfer in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease. Mol Neurodegener 14:34.
Achtyes E, Keaton SA, Smart L, Burmeister AR, Heilman PL, Krzyzanowski S, Nagalla M, Guillemin GJ, Escobar Galvis ML, Lim CK, Muzik M, Postolache TT, Leach R, Brundin L. 2019. Inflammation and kynurenine pathway dysregulation in post-partum women with severe and suicidal depression. Brain Behav Immun.
Keaton SA, Madaj ZB, Heilman P, Smart L, Grit J, Gibbons R, Postolache TT, Roaten K, Achtyes ED, Brundin L. 2019. An inflammatory profile linked to increased suicide risk. J Affect Disord 247:57 65.
Ohlsson L, Gustafsson A, Lavant E, Suneson K, Brundin L, Westin A, Ljunggren L, Lindqvist D. 2018. Leaky gut biomarkers in depression and suicidal behavior. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica.
Labrie V, Brundin L. 2018. Harbingers of mental illness—infections associated with an increased risk for neuropsychiatric illness in children. JAMA Psych.
Johnson ME, Stecher B, Labrie V, Brundin L, Brundin P. 2018. Triggers, facilitators and aggravators: Redefining Parkinson’s disease pathogenesis. Trends Neurosci.
Killinger BA*, Madaj Z*, Sikora JW, Rey N, Haas AJ, Vepa Y, Lindqvist D, Chen H, Thomas PM, Brundin P, Brundin L, Labrie V. 2018. The veriform appendix impacts the risk of developing Parkinson’s. Sci Transl Med 10(465):eaar5280.
Thirtamara-Rajamani K, Li P, Escobar Galvis ML, Labrie V, Brundin P, Brundin L. 2017. Is the enzyme ACMSD a novel therapeutic target in Parkinson’s disease?. J Parkinson Dis 7(4):577–587.
Brundin L, Sellgren CM, Lim CK, Grit J, Pålsson E, Landén M, Samuelsson M, Lundgren K, Brundin P, Fuchs D, Postolache TT, Traskman-Bendz L, Guillemin GJ, Erhardt S. 2016. An enzyme in the kynurenine pathway that governs vulnerability to suicidal behavior by regulating excitotoxicity and neuroinflammation. Transl Psychiatry 6:e865.
Coetzee SG, Pierce S, Brundin P, Brundin L, Hazelett DJ, Coetzee GA. In press. Enrichment of risk SNPs in regulatory regions implicate diverse tissues in Parkinson’s disease etiology. Sci Rep.
Erhardt S, Lim CK, Linderholm KR, Janelidze S, Lindqvist D, Samuelsson M, Lundberg K, Postolache TT, Träskman-Bendz L, Guillemin GJ, Brundin L. 2013. Connecting inflammation with glutamate agonism in suicidality. Neuropsychopharmacology 38:743–752.
Janelidze S, Ventorp F, Erhardt S, Hansson O, Minthon L, Flax J, Samuelsson M, Träskman-Bendz L, Brundin L. 2013. Altered chemokine levels in the cerebrospinal fluid and plasma of suicide attempters. Psychoneuroendocrinology 38(6):853–862.
Suchankova P, Holm G, Träskman-Bendz L, Brundin L, Ekman A. 2013. The +1444C>T polymorphism in the CRP gene: a study on personality traits and suicidal behaviour. Psychiatr Genet 23(2):70-76.
Bay-Richter C, Hallberg L, Ventorp F, Janelidze S, Brundin L. 2012. Aldosterone synergizes with peripheral inflammation to induce brain IL-1β expression and depressive-like effects. Cytokine 60(3): 749–754.
Lindqvist D, Kaufman E, Brundin L, Hall S, Surova Y, Hansson O. 2012. Non-motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson’s disease—correlations with inflammatory cytokines in serum. PLoS One 7(10): e47387.
Zhang Y, Träskman-Bendz L, Janelidze S, Langenberg P, Saleh A, Constantine N, Okusaga O, Bay-Richter C, Brundin L*, Postolache TT*. 2012. Toxoplasma gondii immunoglobulin G antibodies and nonfatal suicidal self-directed violence. J Clin Psychiatry 73(8): 1069–1076.
*Shared last authorship

Miguel Aguileta, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow

Ehraz Anis, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Exploring the contribution of the vermiform appendix to Parkinson’s disease

Jamie Durst, B.S.
Senior Administrative Assistant I

Cameron Forton, B.S.
Assistant Research Technician

Ella Kasanga, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow

Emily Kuhn, B.S.
Senior Research Technician

Qiong (Jade) Sha, Ph.D.
Research Scientist

Jennifer Steiner, Ph.D.
Senior Laboratory Manager

Emmanuel Quansah, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Pharmacological and epigenetic suppression of alpha-synuclein propagation

Saima Zameer, Ph.D, M.Pharm, B.Pharm
Postdoctoral fellow