S100B serum levels and word memory processing in remitted major depression as reflected by brain potentials.
OBJECTIVE
Memory processes, as reflected by 'old/new' effects of event-related potentials (ERPs), have been shown to be impaired in depressed patients. This variability might be partly explained by biological factors. S100B is a glial calcium-binding protein with neuroplastic properties; S100B serum levels have been shown to be increased in depressive patients. The pathophysiologic role of S100B in depression, however, is not yet sufficiently understood.


METHODS
In the present study, ERPs recorded in a visual continuous word recognition paradigm were therefore investigated in patients with remitted major depression in relation to S100B serum levels.


RESULTS
Patients with moderately increased S100B serum levels (n = 6) showed a normal old/new effect in contrast to a reduced old/new effect in patients with normal S100B levels (n = 6) compared to aged-matched controls.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings provide evidence of an association between S100B levels and memory processes in patients with recurrent depression and further suggest a neuroprotective role of moderately increased S100B serum levels in the course of affective disorders.
Zhang
Yuanyuan
Y
Clinic for Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany. Zhang.yuanyuan@mh-hannover.de
Rothermundt
Matthias
M
Peters
Marion
M
Wiesmann
Martin
M
Hoy
Ludwig
L
Arolt
Volker
V
Emrich
Hinderk M
HM
Dietrich
Detlef E
DE
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000097:blood*; D011930:Reaction Time; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000502:physiology*; D012008:Recurrence; D064568:S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D014825:Vocabulary
D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D064568:S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit; D009418:S100 Proteins; C579160:S100B protein, human