title: Dysfunctional plasmalogen dynamics in the plasma and platelets of patients with schizophrenia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Based upon the concept of a prodromal risk syndrome for first psychosis, intense efforts are being applied to define potential biomarkers of disease onset in schizophrenia. One such tentative biomarker may be plasmalogens, complex structural glycerophospholipids that serve multiple functions in all cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  To further investigate this possibility, we undertook a lipidomics analysis of choline and ethanolamine plasmalogens in the plasma and platelets of 23 patients with schizophrenia and 27 age-matched controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma levels of both choline and ethanolamine plasmalogens were decreased by 23 to 45% in patients with schizophrenia. In platelets, from patients with schizophrenia, ethanolamine plasmalogens also were decreased while choline plasmalogen levels were increased. Levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were decreased by approximately 30% both in plasma and platelets.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that alterations in lipid transport or lipid remodeling/metabolism of plasmalogens are present in schizophrenia and that changes in the steady-state levels of these complex lipid pools may be involved in altered neuronal function.
authors.affiliation: DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine, Lincoln Memorial University, 6965 Cumberland Gap Parkway, Harrogate, TN 37752, United States. Electronic address: Paul.wood@lmunet.edu.
authors.forename: Paul L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.affiliation: Southwestern Behavioral Healthcare, 415 Mulberry St., Evansville, IN 47713, United States.
authors.forename: Greg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Unfried
authors.affiliation: Southwestern Behavioral Healthcare, 415 Mulberry St., Evansville, IN 47713, United States.
authors.forename: Willard
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Whitehead
authors.affiliation: DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine, Lincoln Memorial University, 6965 Cumberland Gap Parkway, Harrogate, TN 37752, United States.
authors.forename: Aaron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Phillipps
authors.affiliation: Southwestern Behavioral Healthcare, 415 Mulberry St., Evansville, IN 47713, United States.
authors.forename: Julie A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Wood
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000737:chemistry*; D002794:Choline / Q000097:blood*; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010949:Plasma / Q000737:chemistry*; D010955:Plasmalogens / Q000097:blood*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D044465:White People
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D010955:Plasmalogens; C020791:phosphatidal ethanolamines; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D002794:Choline
keywords: Biomarker; DHA; Plasma; Plasmalogens; Platelets; Schizophrenia