Increased serum S100B protein in schizophrenia: a study in medication-free patients.
S100B protein, a calcium binding protein produced and released by glial cells, has been used as a sensitive marker of brain damage. Previous studies have found alterations in peripheral S100B levels in schizophrenic patients on medication. We compared serum S100B levels of 20 medication-free DSM-IV schizophrenic patients and 20 age-gender matched healthy controls. Schizophrenic patients presented higher serum S100B levels (mean 0.120 ng/ml+/-S.D. 0.140) compared to controls (mean 0.066 ng/ml+/-S.D. 0.067; P=0.014) and there was a negative correlation with illness duration (r=-0.496, P=0.031). The results of this study indicate that serum S100B levels may be a state marker of a limited neurodegenerative process, particularly in the early course of schizophrenia or, at least, in a subgroup of schizophrenic patients.
Lara
D R
DR
Department of Biochemistry, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Ramiro Barcelos, 2600, Anexo, Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-003, Brazil.
Gama
C S
CS
Belmonte-de-Abreu
P
P
Portela
L V
LV
Gonçalves
C A
CA
Fonseca
M
M
Hauck
S
S
Souza
D O
DO
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000378:metabolism; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000378:metabolism*
D009418:S100 Proteins; C110294:S100A1 protein