Serum S100B is increased during early treatment with antipsychotics and in deficit schizophrenia

Abstract

Previous studies reported controversial results concerning alterations of astrocytes in schizophrenia. Because S100B may be regarded as a marker for astrocytes, the objective of this study was to examine S100B serum concentrations in 30 patients with schizophrenia with a monoclonal two-site immunoluminometric assay that specifically detects S100B. An ANOVA revealed medication ( p < 0.005) and deficit vs. nondeficit syndrome ( p < 0.05) as factors that influenced S100B significantly. S100B was higher in schizophrenic patients treated with antipsychotic drugs for approximately 3 weeks (241.1 F 152.5 ng/l) in comparison with unmedicated patients (111.4 F 31.8 ng/l, p < 0.005), and healthy age-matched controls (112.8 F 53.4 ng/l, p < 0.001; Bonferroni corrected two-tailed Student's t-test). There was no difference of S100B between unmedicated patients and controls ( p>0.05). Patients with deficit (250.6 F 154.9 ng/l) had higher S100B levels than patients with nondeficit schizophrenia (146.7 F 107.2 ng/l, p < 0.05) or controls ( p < 0.005). S100B was positively correlated with the subscore 'thought disturbance' of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale ( p < 0.05). In summary, increased serum levels of S100B may indicate alterations of astrocytes during early treatment with antipsychotics and in deficit schizophrenia. Whether S100B is elevated due to injured astrocytes and a disrupted blood -brain barrier, or by active secretion of S100B by astrocytes, has to be clarified by further studies. D

S100B Serum Levels and Long-Term Improvement of Negative Symptoms in Patients with Schizophrenia

“…About 40% of the schizophrenics showed S100B levels higher than the mean plus two SDs of the healthy control group at all investigation time points. Comparable numbers were reported earlier for an acute stage of disease (Lara et al, 2001;Rothermundt et al, 2001;Schroeter et al, 2003;Wiesmann et al, 1999). It appears that a subgroup of schizophrenic patients (about 40%) exhibits increased S100B levels that are relatively stable over time and which do not normalize after recovery from an acute episode.…”

“…Lara et al (2001) reported higher levels in patients with recent onset of disease compared to chronic patients while Rothermundt et al (2001) demonstrated that continuously increased S100B levels after 6 weeks are associated with negative symptomatology. Schroeter et al (2003) found increased S100B levels in patients with deficit schizophrenia compared to nondeficit patients.…”

“…In neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory diseases, increased S100B levels may result from S100B secretion or release from damaged astrocytes. In schizophrenia, several studies have shown increased S100B serum levels in the acute stage of disease (Wiesmann et al, 1999;Lara et al, 2001;Rothermundt et al, 2001;Schroeter et al, 2003). Lara et al (2001) reported higher levels in patients with recent onset of disease compared to chronic patients while Rothermundt et al (2001) demonstrated that continuously increased S100B levels after 6 weeks are associated with negative symptomatology.…”

“…We recruited a larger sample of patients (n ¼ 98). (4) Since associations between negative symptoms or deficit schizophrenia and S100B concentrations have been reported (Rothermundt et al, 2001;Schroeter et al, 2003), we focused on the long-term course of negative symptoms.…”

Improvement of cognitive functions in chronic schizophrenic patients by recombinant human erythropoietin

“…Although our healthy control levels are comparable to those reported by others, 64 the finding of normal values in schizophrenic patients is in some contrast to reports on elevated serum concentrations in this condition. 64,65 In most previous publications, however, only patients within or shortly after an acute episode were investigated, whereas our inclusion criteria required the last episode dating back to more than 6 months. Surprisingly, despite normal S100B baseline levels, schizophrenic patients respond to rhEPO with a further decrease.…”