title: MMP-9 Serum Levels in Schizophrenic Patients during Treatment Augmentation with Sarcosine (Results of the PULSAR Study).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Find changes in matrix metallopeptidase-9 (MMP-9) levels during augmentation of antipsychotic treatment with sarcosine and a relationship between schizophrenia symptoms severity and initial level of MMP-9.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-eight patients with diagnosis of schizophrenia with predominant negative symptoms participated in a six-month prospective RCT (randomized controlled trial). The patients received two grams of sarcosine (n = 28) or placebo (n = 30) daily. At the beginning, after six weeks and after six months MMP-9 levels were measured. Severity of symptomatology was assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  MMP-9 serum levels were stable after six weeks and six months in both groups. We noted improvement in negative symptoms, general psychopathology and total PANSS score in sarcosine group compared to placebo; however, there was no correlations between serum MMP-9 concentrations and PANSS scores in all assessments. Initial serum MMP-9 concentrations cannot be used as an improvement predictor acquired during sarcosine augmentation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that either MMP-9 is not involved in the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA)-dependent mechanism of sarcosine action in terms of clinical parameters or sarcosine induced changes in peripheral MMP-9 concentrations cannot be detected in blood assessments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Affective and Psychotic Disorders, Medical University of &#321;&#243;d&#378;, Central Clinical Hospital, Czechos&#322;owacka 8/10, 92-216 &#321;&#243;d&#378;, Poland. dominik.strzelecki@umed.lodz.pl.
authors.forename: Dominik
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Strzelecki
authors.affiliation: Department of Affective and Psychotic Disorders, Medical University of &#321;&#243;d&#378;, Central Clinical Hospital, Czechos&#322;owacka 8/10, 92-216 &#321;&#243;d&#378;, Poland. okaluzynska@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kałużyńska
authors.affiliation: Department of Affective and Psychotic Disorders, Medical University of &#321;&#243;d&#378;, Central Clinical Hospital, Czechos&#322;owacka 8/10, 92-216 &#321;&#243;d&#378;, Poland. szyburska@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Justyna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Szyburska
authors.affiliation: Department of Old Age Psychiatry and Psychotic Disorders, Medical University of &#321;&#243;d&#378;, Central Clinical Hospital, Czechos&#322;owacka 8/10, 92-216 &#321;&#243;d&#378;, Poland. adam.wysokinski@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wysokiński
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015990:Placebo Effect; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000378:metabolism; D012521:Sarcosine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; C579270:MMP9 protein, human; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; D012521:Sarcosine
keywords: ">d-aspartate) receptor; NMDA (N-methyl-; glutamatergic system; matrix metallopeptidase-9 (MMP-9); negative symptoms; sarcosine; schizophrenia