title: Increased plasma asymmetric dimethylarginine is associated with cognitive deficits in patients with schizophrenia.
abstract: Cognitive deficits are a core feature of schizophrenia. Previous studies have shown that plasma asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), an endogenous inhibitor of the nitric oxide synthase, was increased in patients with schizophrenia. This study aimed to investigate the association of ADMA with cognitive deficits in schizophrenia. Forty-seven patients with schizophrenia and 45 healthy control subjects were recruited in present study. Cognitive function was assessed with a neuropsychological battery including 7 neurocognitive tests. Schizophrenic symptoms were assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale and plasma ADMA concentration was measured by HPLC. We found that patients with schizophrenia exhibited poorer performances in nearly all of the cognitive tests except for the visual memory index compared with healthy controls. Plasma ADMA levels were significantly increased in patients with schizophrenia when compared to normal controls, and the mean ADMA concentration in patients with multiple episode schizophrenia was much higher than that of patients with first episode schizophrenia. For the patients, ADMA was negatively associated with attention, working memory and executive function in schizophrenia. These results suggest that ADMA may be involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia-associated cognitive impairments, and plasma ADMA could be a peripheral biomarker for evaluation of cognitive function in schizophrenia.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Jiangxi Mental Hospital/Affiliated Mental Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330029, PR China; Medical Experimental Center, Jiangxi Mental Hospital/Affiliated Mental Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330029, PR China.
authors: Yuan-Jian
authors: YJ
authors: Yang
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Jiangxi Mental Hospital/Affiliated Mental Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330029, PR China.
authors: Jian-Wen
authors: JW
authors: Xiong
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, PR China.
authors: Ying
authors: Y
authors: Zhao
authors: Medical Experimental Center, Jiangxi Mental Hospital/Affiliated Mental Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330029, PR China.
authors: Jin-Qiong
authors: JQ
authors: Zhan
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Jiangxi Mental Hospital/Affiliated Mental Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330029, PR China.
authors: Hai-Bo
authors: HB
authors: Chen
authors: Medical Experimental Center, Jiangxi Mental Hospital/Affiliated Mental Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330029, PR China.
authors: Kun
authors: K
authors: Yan
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Jiangxi Mental Hospital/Affiliated Mental Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330029, PR China.
authors: Mao-Rong
authors: MR
authors: Hu
authors: Medical Experimental Center, Jiangxi Mental Hospital/Affiliated Mental Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330029, PR China. Electronic address: jxmh_yb@163.com.
authors: Bin
authors: B
authors: Yu
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Jiangxi Mental Hospital/Affiliated Mental Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330029, PR China. Electronic address: jxmh_wb@163.com.
authors: Bo
authors: B
authors: Wei
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C487735:dimethylarginine; C018524:N,N-dimethylarginine; D001120:Arginine
keywords: Asymmetric dimethylarginine; Cognitive deficits; Plasma; Schizophrenia