Serum S100B represents a new biomarker for mood disorders

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Biochemistry
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Mood disorders are increasingly linked to glial pathology.
• S100B protein, released by glial cells, is a potential marker for glial activation or injury.
• Serum S100B is easily measurable and reflects glial status.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review studies on serum S100B levels in mood disorders.
• To evaluate S100B as a biomarker for glial pathology in depression and bipolar disorder.
• To explore the relationship between S100B, age, treatment, and neuronal markers.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of studies investigating serum S100B in patients with mood disorders.
• Comparison of S100B levels in major depressive disorder versus bipolar disorder.
• Analysis of S100B levels in relation to age, treatment response, and neuronal markers.

Main Results:

• Serum S100B is consistently elevated in mood disorders, more so in major depression than bipolar disorder.
• Elevated S100B correlates with age in depressed subjects, supporting the glial hypothesis.
• Antidepressive treatment reduced S100B in major depression, unlike in mania.
• Neuronal marker neuron-specific enolase remained unaltered, distinguishing glial from neuronal pathology.

Conclusions:

• Serum S100B is a promising in vivo biomarker for mood disorders, reflecting glial activation and white matter changes.
• S100B aids in understanding the pathogenesis and plasticity of mood disorders.
• Further longitudinal studies with multimodal imaging are needed to validate S100B's role in mood disorder development and treatment.