title: Decreased Prolidase Activity in Patients with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Many neurochemical systems have been implicated in the development of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The prolidase enzyme is a cytosolic exopeptidase that detaches proline or hydroxyproline from the carboxyl terminal position of dipeptides. Prolidase has important biological effects, and to date, its role in the etiology of PTSD has not been studied. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate prolidase activity in patients with PTSD.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group consisted of patients who were diagnosed with PTSD after the earthquake that occurred in the province of Van in Turkey in 2011 (n=25); the first control group consisted of patients who experienced the earthquake but did not show PTSD symptoms (n=26) and the second control group consisted of patients who have never been exposed to a traumatic event (n=25). Prolidase activities in the patients and the control groups were determined by the ELISA method using commercial kits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prolidase activity in the patient group was significantly lower when compared to the control groups. Prolidase activity was also significantly lower in the traumatized healthy subjects compared to the other healthy group (p<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of the present study suggest that the decrease in prolidase activity may have neuroprotective effects in patients with PTSD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Süleyman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Demir
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mahmut
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bulut
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Abdullah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Atli
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
authors.forename: İbrahim
authors.initials: İ
authors.lastname: Kaplan
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet Cemal
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Kaya
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yasin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bez
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Van Yüzüncü Yıl University, Van, Turkey.
authors.forename: Pınar Güzel
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Özdemir
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Aytekin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sır
keywords: Neuroprotective; PTSD; Prolidase activity