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Published on: November 21, 2013
Correlation between myelin basic protein levels in cerebrospinal fluid and motor speed in patients with schizophrenia
Takako Enokida1,2, Kotaro Hattori1,3, Miho Ota4,5
1Department of Bioresources, Medical Genome Center, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan.
Abstract:
Alterations in the white matter have been implicated in schizophrenia. Myelin basic protein (MBP), a component of the myelin sheath, in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has been suggested as a biomarker for white matter damage in demyelinating diseases. This prompted us to examine the CSF-MBP levels in patients with schizophrenia. We analyzed the CSF-MBP levels in 152 patients with schizophrenia and 117 age- and sex-matched controls. A significant positive correlation between age and CSF-MBP levels was observed both in the patients (p < 0.001) and controls (p = 0.014). No significant difference was observed in the CSF-MBP levels between the two groups. However, among a subsample of the patients (N = 32), a significantly negative correlation was observed between CSF-MBP and age-adjusted motor speed score of the brief assessment of cognition in schizophrenia (ρ = -0.59, p < 0.001). Further, among patients who underwent diffusional magnetic resonance imaging of the brain (N = 27), the CSF-MBP levels showed a significantly negative correlation with the mean kurtosis value in the right temporo-parietal region (p < 0.001). Our results suggest that the CSF-MBP level has limited utility as a diagnostic marker; however, higher CSF-MBP levels are associated with poorer motor speed, which may be associated with regional white matter damage in the brain in patients with schizophrenia.
Insights
Cerebrospinal fluid myelin basic protein (CSF-MBP) levels did not differ between schizophrenia patients and controls. However, higher CSF-MBP correlated with poorer motor speed and regional white matter changes in schizophrenia patients.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biomarker Research
- Schizophrenia Studies
Background:
- White matter alterations are implicated in schizophrenia.
- Myelin basic protein (MBP) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a potential biomarker for white matter damage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate cerebrospinal fluid MBP (CSF-MBP) levels in schizophrenia patients.
- To explore the relationship between CSF-MBP, cognition, and white matter integrity in schizophrenia.
Main Methods:
- Analyzed CSF-MBP levels in 152 schizophrenia patients and 117 controls.
- Correlated CSF-MBP with age, motor speed (Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia), and white matter integrity (diffusion MRI).
Main Results:
- No significant difference in CSF-MBP levels between patients and controls.
- CSF-MBP positively correlated with age in both groups.
- In schizophrenia patients, higher CSF-MBP correlated with lower age-adjusted motor speed and reduced mean kurtosis in the right temporo-parietal white matter.
Conclusions:
- CSF-MBP has limited utility as a diagnostic marker for schizophrenia.
- Elevated CSF-MBP levels in schizophrenia are associated with impaired motor speed and regional white matter abnormalities.
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