Clinic for Mental Health Protection, Clinical Centre Nis, Nis, Serbia.
Clin Chem Lab Med. 2010;48(1):89-94. doi: 10.1515/CCLM.2010.014.
Nitric oxide (NO) is known to be a signaling molecule with many physiogical functions including apoptotic process regulation. Since apoptosis may contribute to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, this study was undertaken to determine the plasma concentrations of NO in schizophrenics.
Nitrite/nitrate (NO(2)(-)/NO(3)(-)) concentrations were measured in plasma from 40 patients with schizophrenia, and 36 age- and gender-matched healthy persons using a colorimetric test.
Plasma NO(2)(-)/NO(3)(-) concentrations were significantly higher in patients with schizophrenia (102.8+/-34.7 micromol/L, p<0.0001) than in controls (69.2+/-13.2 micromol/L). Also, mean NO(2)(-)/NO(3)(-) values in female patients and controls were significantly higher (118.2+/-44.7 micromol/L, p<0.001; 74.8+/-16.1 micromol/L, p<0.05, respectively) compared to males (94.7+/-25.3 micromol/L, 67.6+/-10.8 micromol/L). Significant correlation was seen between plasma NO(2)(-)/NO(3)(-) concentrations and heredity, number of episodes and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) caspase-3 activity, which was significantly higher in patients than in controls (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in NO(2)(-)/NO(3)(-) concentrations between patients with different Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) scores or between patients treated with haloperidol (97.2+/-31.2 micromol/L) and those treated with other atypical antipsychotic drugs (109.8+/-33.7 micromol/L). Both parameters showed no significant differences between smokers and non-smokers.
This study showed that plasma NO(2)(-)/NO(3)(-) concentrations were significantly increased in patients with schizophrenia, being significantly higher in female than male patients, and showing a significant correlation with heredity, number of episodes and PBMC caspase-3 activity. These results suggest that NO could be considered an inducer or regulator of apoptosis in patients with schizophrenia.
一氧化氮（NO）是一种已知的信号分子，具有许多生理功能，包括细胞凋亡过程的调节。由于细胞凋亡可能有助于精神分裂症的病理生理学，因此本研究旨在确定精神分裂症患者的血浆中 NO 的浓度。
使用比色法测定 40 例精神分裂症患者和 36 名年龄和性别匹配的健康人的血浆中亚硝酸盐/硝酸盐（NO2--/NO3--）浓度。
精神分裂症患者的血浆 NO2--/NO3--浓度明显高于对照组（102.8+/-34.7μmol/L，p<0.0001）。此外，女性患者和对照组的平均 NO2--/NO3--值明显高于男性患者（118.2+/-44.7μmol/L，p<0.001；74.8+/-16.1μmol/L，p<0.05）。血浆 NO2--/NO3--浓度与遗传、发作次数和外周血单个核细胞（PBMC）半胱氨酸天冬氨酸蛋白酶-3 活性呈显著相关，患者的活性明显高于对照组（p<0.05）。不同阳性和阴性综合征量表（PANSS）评分的患者之间或使用氟哌啶醇（97.2+/-31.2μmol/L）和其他非典型抗精神病药物（109.8+/-33.7μmol/L）治疗的患者之间的 NO2--/NO3--浓度无显著差异。吸烟者和不吸烟者之间的两个参数均无显著差异。
本研究表明，精神分裂症患者的血浆 NO2--/NO3--浓度显著升高，女性患者明显高于男性患者，与遗传、发作次数和 PBMC 半胱氨酸天冬氨酸蛋白酶-3 活性呈显著相关。这些结果表明，NO 可被视为精神分裂症患者细胞凋亡的诱导剂或调节剂。
