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Increased serum S100B protein in schizophrenia: a study in medication-free patients
D R Lara1, C S Gama, P Belmonte-de-Abreu
1Department of Biochemistry, Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Ramiro Barcelos, 2600, Anexo, Porto Alegre, RS, 90035-003, Brazil.
Abstract:
S100B protein, a calcium binding protein produced and released by glial cells, has been used as a sensitive marker of brain damage. Previous studies have found alterations in peripheral S100B levels in schizophrenic patients on medication. We compared serum S100B levels of 20 medication-free DSM-IV schizophrenic patients and 20 age-gender matched healthy controls. Schizophrenic patients presented higher serum S100B levels (mean 0.120 ng/ml+/-S.D. 0.140) compared to controls (mean 0.066 ng/ml+/-S.D. 0.067; P=0.014) and there was a negative correlation with illness duration (r=-0.496, P=0.031). The results of this study indicate that serum S100B levels may be a state marker of a limited neurodegenerative process, particularly in the early course of schizophrenia or, at least, in a subgroup of schizophrenic patients.