Increased serum S100B in never-medicated and medicated schizophrenic patients.
S100B is a calcium-binding protein, which is produced primarily by glial cells. It modulates the proliferation and differentiation of neurons and glia by affecting protective and apoptotic mechanisms. Recently, several studies have shown increased serum S100B levels in patients with schizophrenia, suggesting that S100B might be relevant to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. S100B levels were assessed using ELISA in the serum of 80 never-medicated early-stage and 82 medicated chronic schizophrenia patients and 97 healthy controls subjects. The psychopathology of schizophrenia was assessed by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Our results showed significantly increased serum S100B levels in both never-medicated and medicated patients compared to normal controls (both p<0.0001). S100B in never-medicated patients was also markedly increased, compared with medicated patients (p<0.0001). S100B changes observed were irrespective of neuroleptic medication, gender, age, and smoking. Increased S100B levels in the early stage of schizophrenia suggest that glial cell activation or structural damage may be part of a neurodegenerative process in schizophrenia. The lower S100B levels in chronic than early-stage patients further suggest that antipsychotic treatment may reduce this neurodegeneration.
Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, PR China. xyzhang@bcm.edu
Xiang Yang
XY
Zhang
Mei Hong
MH
Xiu
Cai
C
Song
Da Chun
DC
Chen
Gui Ying
GY
Wu
Colin N
CN
Haile
Therese A
TA
Kosten
Thomas R
TR
Kosten
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000097:blood*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012044:Regression Analysis; D064568:S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D055815:Young Adult
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D064568:S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit; D009418:S100 Proteins; C579160:S100B protein, human