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Reduced Cell-Free Mitochondrial DNA Levels Were Induced by Antipsychotics Treatment in First-Episode Patients With

Houxian Ouyang1,2, Minfang Huang1,3, Yongming Xu1

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, Ningbo Kangning Hospital, Ningbo, China.

Frontiers in Psychiatry
|July 26, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Cell-free mitochondrial DNA (cf-mtDNA) levels correlate with symptom changes in first-episode schizophrenia patients. This finding suggests cf-mtDNA may help track treatment progress in schizophrenia.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Immunology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Cell-free mitochondrial DNA (cf-mtDNA) acts as a damage-associated molecular pattern, influencing cytokine release and immune responses.
  • cf-mtDNA is implicated in the pathophysiology of various mental diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between cf-mtDNA levels and clinical progression in patients experiencing their first episode of schizophrenia.
  • To determine if cf-mtDNA can serve as a biomarker for treatment response.

Main Methods:

  • Plasma cf-mtDNA levels were measured in 34 first-episode schizophrenia patients before and after 8 weeks of antipsychotic treatment.
  • Clinical status was assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS).
  • Changes in cf-mtDNA copy number (Δcf-mtDNA) were correlated with changes in PANSS scores (ΔPANSS).

Main Results:

  • A significant correlation was observed between Δcf-mtDNA and ΔPANSS total scores (P = 0.002).
  • Δcf-mtDNA also significantly correlated with changes in the positive symptom subscale of the PANSS (P = 0.01).

Conclusions:

  • Plasma cf-mtDNA levels show a significant relationship with clinical symptom changes in first-episode schizophrenia.
  • cf-mtDNA may emerge as a valuable biomarker for monitoring clinical progression and treatment efficacy in schizophrenia.
Keywords:
antipsychoticscell-free mitochondrial DNAclinical progressionfirst-episode schizophreniapositive and negative syndrome scale

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