Higher serum prolyl endopeptidase activity in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder.
BACKGROUND
It is reported that psychiatric disorders, such as depression and schizophrenia, are associated with changes in serum activity of prolyl endopeptidase (EC 3.4.21.26), a cytosolic endopeptidase, which cleaves peptide bonds on the carboxylside of proline in proteins of relatively small molecular mass.


OBJECTIVE
The aims of the present study were to examine serum PEP activity in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) versus healthy volunteers. PEP activity has been determined by a fluorimetric assay.


RESULTS
Serum PEP activity was significantly higher in patients with PTSD than in normal volunteers. Serum PEP activity was significantly higher in patients with PTSD and concurrent major depression than in patients with PTSD without major depression. In PTSD patients, there were no significant correlations between serum PEP activity and severity of PTSD symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
The results show that PTSD and, in particular, PTSD with concurrent major depression is associated with increased activity of PEP.


CONCLUSIONS
these results may be of importance for the (i) neuroendocrine pathophysiology of PTSD since PEP degrades neuropeptides, such as arginine vasopressin (AVP) and thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH); and (ii) etiology of PTSD, since PEP degrades behaviorally active neuropeptides, such as AVP, TRH, oxytocin, neurotensin and substance P, which play a key role in positive reinforcement, social interactions, emotions and stress responsivity.
Maes
M
M
Clinical Research Center for Mental Health, Antwerp, Belgium. m.maes@unicall.be
Lin
A H
AH
Bonaccorso
S
S
Goossens
F
F
Van Gastel
A
A
Pioli
R
R
Delmeire
L
L
Scharpé
S
S
D000328:Adult; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin / Q000378:metabolism; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005470:Fluorometry / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009496:Neurotensin / Q000378:metabolism; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000378:metabolism; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D013373:Substance P / Q000378:metabolism; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism
D001127:Arginine Vasopressin; D013373:Substance P; D009496:Neurotensin; D010121:Oxytocin; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone; D010450:Endopeptidases