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Elevated PLA2 activity in schizophrenics and other psychiatric patients
M Noponen1, M Sanfilipo, K Samanich
1Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center New York, NY 10010.
Biological Psychiatry
|November 1, 1993
Summary
Serum phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity is elevated in individuals with schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders, but not specifically linked to schizophrenia itself. These findings suggest a non-specific disease marker in psychiatric conditions.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) is an enzyme involved in inflammatory processes.
- Elevated PLA2 activity has been observed in various non-psychiatric conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate serum PLA2 activity in patients with schizophrenia.
- To compare PLA2 activity between schizophrenic patients, psychiatric controls, and normal controls.
Main Methods:
- Radioenzymatic assay was used to measure serum PLA2 activity.
- Participants included 39 schizophrenics, 26 psychiatric controls, and 26 normal controls.
Main Results:
- Serum PLA2 activity was significantly higher in schizophrenics and psychiatric controls compared to normal controls.
- No significant difference in PLA2 activity was found between schizophrenic and psychiatric control groups.
- Elevated PLA2 activity was prevalent across various psychiatric diagnoses, including depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and substance abuse.
Conclusions:
- Elevated serum PLA2 activity is not specific to schizophrenia.
- The observed increase in PLA2 activity appears to be a non-specific marker across psychiatric disorders.
- Further research is needed to understand the significance and implications of these findings in relation to other acute-phase proteins.