title: Serum levels of BDNF, folate and homocysteine: in relation to hippocampal volume and psychopathology in drug naïve, first episode schizophrenia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study was to examine serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), folate, homocysteine (Hcy), and their relationships with hippocampal volume and psychopathology in drug naïve, first episode schizophrenia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Drug naïve, first episode schizophrenia patients and healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Serum levels of BDNF, folate and Hcy were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA), and enzymatic cycling method respectively. Hippocampus was parcellated and bilateral hippocampal volumes were measured using FreeSurfer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-six patients with drug naïve, first episode schizophrenia (SZ group) and 30 healthy controls (control group) were enrolled. The SZ group had significantly lower serum levels of BDNF and folate, and significantly higher serum levels of Hcy compared with the control group (p=0.013, p<0.001, p=0.003 respectively). There were no significant differences in hippocampal volumes between the two groups (ps>0.2). Within the SZ group, there were significant positive relationships between serum levels of BDNF and both left and right hippocampal volumes (r=0.327, p=0.026; r=0.338, p=0.022 respectively). In contrast, such relationships did not exist in the control group. Within the SZ group, there were significant negative relationships between serum levels of folate and PANSS-total scores and PANSS-negative symptom scores (r=0.319, p=0.031; r=0.321, p=0.030 respectively); and there was a positive relationship between serum levels of Hcy and PANSS-total scores (r=0.312, p=0.035). Controlling for potential confounding variables resulted in similar findings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Drug naïve, first episode schizophrenia presents decreased serum levels of BDNF, folate and increased serum levels of Hcy, which may play an important role in the neurodevelopmental process and clinical manifestation of schizophrenia.
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital/Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China; Henan Province Biological Psychiatry Key Laboratory, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China; Department of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA. Electronic address: sxqzhll@126.com.
authors.forename: Xueqin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Xiaoduo
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital/Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital/Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Lijuan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Meina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Quan
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital/Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xumei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital/Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jinsong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital/Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital/Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jianjiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Henan Province Biological Psychiatry Key Laboratory, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China; Henan Province Mental Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital/Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China. Electronic address: lvluxian@126.com.
authors.forename: Luxian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lv
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000473:pathology*; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007118:Immunoassay; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D006710:Homocysteine; C579455:BDNF protein, human; D005492:Folic Acid
keywords: BDNF; Folate; Hippocampus; Homocysteine; Schizophrenia