TNF-related weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) levels in schizophrenia.
Members of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily have roles in many biological events and pathogenesis of central nervous system (CNS) diseases. A relatively recently found member of this family, TNF-related weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) have importance both in development of pathological CNS processes and as a target for the treatment of these diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate whether TWEAK's plasma levels are different in patients with schizophrenia. For this purpose plasma TWEAK levels of 44 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and control group of 40 healthy individuals were compared. Although numerical difference was found between TWEAK levels of patients and controls it was not statistically significant. When we tested for female and male patients and controls seperately, TWEAK levels of male patients were significantly lower than male controls. As far as we know this is the first study that investigates levels of TWEAK in patients with schizophrenia. Although we did not find statistically significant results in our study, we believe that difference could be found in future studies with higher number of subjects. Researches with non-studied TNF superfamily members like TWEAK and TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) could contribute to the understanding of immune-cytokine related hypotheses of schizophrenia.
Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital Psychiatry Department, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: eliftatlidil@yahoo.com.
Elif
E
Tatlıdil Yaylacı
Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital Psychiatry Department, Ankara, Turkey.
Rabia Nazik
RN
Yüksel
Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital Biochemistry Department, Ankara, Turkey.
Kübranur
K
Ünal
Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital Psychiatry Department, Ankara, Turkey.
Neslihan
N
Altunsoy
Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital Psychiatry Department, Ankara, Turkey.
Merve
M
Cingi
Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital Psychiatry Department, Ankara, Turkey.
Şafak
Ş
Yalçın Şahiner
Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital Psychiatry Department, Ankara, Turkey.
Makbule Çiğdem
MÇ
Aydemir
Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital Psychiatry Department, Ankara, Turkey.
Erol
E
Göka
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D000074049:Cytokine TWEAK; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood*; D012737:Sex Factors; D048069:Tumor Necrosis Factors / Q000097:blood*
D015415:Biomarkers; D000074049:Cytokine TWEAK; D016207:Cytokines; C109743:TNFSF12 protein, human; D048069:Tumor Necrosis Factors
Cytokines; Inflammation; Tumor necrosis factor