title: Reduced fasting plasma levels of diazepam-binding inhibitor in adolescents with anorexia nervosa.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Altered expression and/or function, both peripherally and centrally, of various neuropeptides is involved in the neurophysiology of anorexia nervosa (AN). Diazepam-binding inhibitor (DBI) is an interesting peptide for understanding this crosstalk. The aim of this work was to assess fasting plasma levels of DBI and leptin in patients with AN.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four AN adolescents were recruited together with 10 age-comparable healthy controls. Neuropeptide determinations were performed on plasma samples by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Patients with AN were further characterized for the presence of a depressive state or anxiety by using, respectively, the Children's Depression Inventory or the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory form Y.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Levels of both plasma DBI and leptin were reduced in patients with AN (∼40 and ∼70%, respectively). DBI levels displayed a tendency to increase in the presence of a depressive state, although not with anxiety, whereas leptin levels correlated exclusively with body mass index.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data further extend our knowledge of neuropeptide dysfunction in AN, and plasma DBI may represent a marker for this disease, in particular considering its correlation with comorbid mood disorders.
authors.affiliation: Neurology and Laboratory of Neurobiology, University of Milano-Bicocca, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.forename: Lucio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tremolizzo
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bomba
authors.forename: Orlando
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Uccellini
authors.forename: Maria Sara
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Maria Elisabetta
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Raggi
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Neri
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferrarese
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nacinovich
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000097:blood* / Q000523:psychology; D001007:Anxiety / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood; D026261:Diazepam Binding Inhibitor / Q000097:blood*; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D026261:Diazepam Binding Inhibitor; D020738:Leptin
keywords: anorexia nervosa; biomarker; depression; diazepam-binding inhibitor; leptin