Decreased S100-beta protein in schizophrenia: preliminary evidence

Gattaz, Wagner F.; Lara, Diogo R.; Elkis, Helio; Portela, Luis V.; Gonçalves, Carlos A.; Tort, Adriano B.; Henna, Jorge; Souza, Diogo O.

« Previous Next »Schizophrenia Research
Volume 43, Issue 2 , Pages 91-95, 16 June 2000

Decreased S100-beta protein in schizophrenia: preliminary evidence

Wagner F. Gattaz
- Laboratory of Neurosciences (LIM-27), Department and Institute of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine of the University São Paulo, 01060-970 São Paulo, Brazil
- Corresponding author. Fax: +55-11-852-9029
Diogo R. Lara
- Department of Biochemistry, ICBS, Federal University, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Helio Elkis
- Laboratory of Neurosciences (LIM-27), Department and Institute of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine of the University São Paulo, 01060-970 São Paulo, Brazil
Luis V. Portela
- Department of Biochemistry, ICBS, Federal University, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Carlos A. Gonçalves
- Department of Biochemistry, ICBS, Federal University, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Adriano B. Tort
- Department of Biochemistry, ICBS, Federal University, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Jorge Henna
- Laboratory of Neurosciences (LIM-27), Department and Institute of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine of the University São Paulo, 01060-970 São Paulo, Brazil
Diogo O. Souza
- Department of Biochemistry, ICBS, Federal University, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Received 6 April 1999; accepted 30 July 1999.

Abstract

The S100 proteins are a family of calcium-binding proteins found in the central and peripheral nervous systems of vertebrates. S100β, the most abundant member of this family in the CNS, mediates calcium signal transduction, and shows neurotrophic, gliotrophic and mitogenic actions that influence the development and maintenance of the nervous system. Another member of the S100 family (S100A10) was found to modulate phospholipid turnover by inhibiting the activity of enzyme phospholipase A2 (PLA2). We determined the concentration of S100β protein in the plasma of 23 medicated schizophrenic patients and 23 healthy controls. S100β protein accounts for 96% of the total S100 in the brain. Schizophrenic patients showed reduced S100β concentrations (p=0.003), and this finding was not related to clinical variables or to intake of antipsychotic medication. Decreased S100β could be related to the findings of increased PLA2 activity and to brain maldevelopment in schizophrenia. These results are discussed further with respect to the role of adenosine in S100β release.

Keywords: Brain development, Phospholipase A2, S100β protein, Schizophrenia