title: Taurine and Epidermal Growth Factor Belong to the Signature of First-Episode Psychosis.
abstract: This study evaluated the levels of two amino acid derivatives taurine and spermine in first-episode psychosis (FEP) patients and their response to antipsychotic treatment. The levels of taurine and spermine were significantly up-regulated in antipsychotic-naïve FEP patients compared to control subjects (CS). Treatment of FEP patients with antipsychotic drugs significantly reduced the positive symptoms of schizophrenia. This positive effect was accompanied by a significant reduction of taurine and spermine to the levels measured in CS. General linear model was used to establish associations of taurine and spermine with the levels of cytokines and growth factors, measured in our previous experiments using the same study sample. There was a strong association between taurine and epidermal growth factor (EGF). Both biomarkers significantly correlated with the disease symptoms as well as with the effectiveness of antipsychotic treatment. Accordingly one can conclude that taurine and EGF belong to the signature of FEP. Most probably they reflect altered oxidative stress and corrupted function of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in FEP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of TartuTartu, Estonia; Centre of Excellence for Genomics and Translational Medicine, University of TartuTartu, Estonia.
authors.forename: Kati
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koido
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of TartuTartu, Estonia; Centre of Excellence for Genomics and Translational Medicine, University of TartuTartu, Estonia.
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Innos
authors.affiliation: Centre of Excellence for Genomics and Translational Medicine, University of TartuTartu, Estonia; Psychiatry Clinic, Tartu University HospitalTartu, Estonia.
authors.forename: Liina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Haring
authors.affiliation: Centre of Excellence for Genomics and Translational Medicine, University of TartuTartu, Estonia; Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of TartuTartu, Estonia.
authors.forename: Mihkel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zilmer
authors.affiliation: Centre of Excellence for Genomics and Translational Medicine, University of TartuTartu, Estonia; Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of TartuTartu, Estonia.
authors.forename: Aigar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ottas
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of TartuTartu, Estonia; Centre of Excellence for Genomics and Translational Medicine, University of TartuTartu, Estonia.
authors.forename: Eero
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vasar
keywords: NMDA receptors; antipsychotic treatment; cytokines; epidermal growth factor; first-episode psychosis; growth factors; spermine; taurine