title: Increased serum Dickkopf-1 levels in drug-abusing psychotic patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) is an inhibitor of the canonical Wnt pathway, which is known to be impaired in both psychotic and neurodegenerative disorders. Here, we examined serum DKK1 levels as an indicator of ongoing neurodegeneration in psychotic patients, with or without a recent or current history of drug abuse.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured serum DKK1 levels by ELISA in 22 inpatients with psychosis and no history of drug abuse, 22 with psychosis and drug abuse, and 16 controls. We rated psychopathology using the following rating scales: the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS); the Clinical Global Impressions (CGI) severity scale; and the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scale. Extrapyramidal motor symptoms were assessed by the Simpson-Angus Neurological Rating Scale (NRS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Inpatients with psychosis and comorbid substance abuse showed significantly higher serum DKK1 levels than inpatients with psychosis and no comorbid substance abuse or controls. Comorbid patients had earlier onset, longer duration of psychosis, and more severe extrapyramidal motor symptoms. However, we did not find any significant correlation between DKK1 levels and rating scale scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Psychosis led to elevated serum DKK1 levels, and substance abuse led to a further increase. Knowing that there is a correlation between brain and blood levels of DKK1, we speculate that the observed increase in DKK1 levels reflects drug-induced neurotoxicity in our patients.
authors: NESMOS Department (Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Organs), School of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University-Rome, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy. seratadaniele@gmail.com
authors: Daniele
authors: D
authors: Serata
authors: Giorgio D
authors: GD
authors: Kotzalidis
authors: Barbara
authors: B
authors: Riozzi
authors: Marianna
authors: M
authors: Storto
authors: Isabella
authors: I
authors: Panaccione
authors: Silvia
authors: S
authors: Romano
authors: Chiara
authors: C
authors: Rapinesi
authors: Giulio Maria
authors: GM
authors: Porfiri
authors: Barbara
authors: B
authors: Casolla
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Del Casale
authors: Martina
authors: M
authors: Curto
authors: Matteo
authors: M
authors: Caloro
authors: Nicoletta
authors: N
authors: Girardi
authors: Valeria
authors: V
authors: Savoja
authors: Ferdinando
authors: F
authors: Nicoletti
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Tatarelli
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Girardi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001480:Basal Ganglia Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017831:Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: C501126:DKK1 protein, human; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins