title: Cyclic adenosine monophosphate responsive element binding protein in post-traumatic stress disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The cyclic adenosine monophosphate responsive element binding (CREB) protein is a transcription factor involved in different neural processes, such as learning, neuroplasticity and the modulation of stress response. Alterations in the CREB pathway have been observed in the brains and lymphocytes of patients affected by depression and alcohol abuse. Given the lack of information, our study aimed at investigating the levels of total and activated CREB protein in lympho-monocytes of 20 drug-free patients suffering from post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD), as compared with 20 healthy control subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples were collected from patients and healthy control subjects on the same time and lympho-monocytes were isolated according to standardized methods. CREB protein levels and activation were measured by means of immunoenzymatic techniques.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that PTSD patients had statistically lower levels of total CREB protein in lympho-monocytes than healthy control subjects. On the contrary, no difference in the activated CREB protein was detected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings, albeit preliminary, would suggest that the CREB pathway might be involved in the pathophysiology of PTSD. Future studies should clarify if specific PTSD symptom clusters might be related to the CREB pathway.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Psichiatria, Neurobiologia, Farmacologia e Biotecnologie, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martini
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Da Pozzo
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carmassi
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cuboni
authors.forename: Maria Letizia
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Trincavelli
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Massimetti
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marazziti
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dell'Osso
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002950:Citrate (si)-Synthase / Q000032:analysis; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein; D002950:Citrate (si)-Synthase