[The involvement of abnormal apoptosis in the disturbance of synaptic plasticity in posttraumatic stress disorder]

Authors determined the levels of marker proteins for apoptosis and synaptic plasticity - annexin-А5 and complexin-2, correspondingly, as well as the proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the blood serum of patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in comparison to healthy controls using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. An analysis of correlations between these parameters was performed. According to the results obtained, the levels of annexin-А5 and complexin-2 were significantly lower, and the levels of TNF-α were significantly higher in PTSD patients. In addition, a positive correlation between the levels of annexin-А5 and complexin-2, on the one hand, and a negative correlation between the levels of annexin-А5 and TNF-α, on the other hand, were detected in PTSD. It has been concluded that PTSD is characterized by the lower apoptosis rate associated with the defects in synaptic plasticity. It is proposed that abnormal apoptosis may be also one of the factors responsible for development of PTSD-associated chronic inflammation.