BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown impaired antioxidant defense system in schizophrenia, including alterations in glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in erythrocytes. There exists a related enzyme, human plasma GSH-Px (hpGSH-Px), that has not been previously examined in schizophrenia. METHODS: An enzyme-linked immunoassay was used to determine hpGSH-Px levels in male schizophrenic patients (n = 39), using a within-subject, on-off haloperidol (HD) treatment design, compared with age- and gender-matched normal control subjects (n = 37). RESULTS: hpGSH-Px was not significantly different between normal control subjects and patients, consistent with our previous findings in erythrocyte GSH-Px. There were no significant treatment effects. hpGSH-Px was significantly and positively correlated with psychosis rating scores in patients both on and off HD treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Although not different from normal controls, hpGSH-Px levels in patients may reflect oxidative stress associated with greater psychosis severity. The present findings thus suggest that schizophrenic patients, without obvious increase of endogenous antioxidant enzymes (e.g., hpGSH-Px), may be at risk for oxidative damage.
BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown impaired antioxidant defense system in schizophrenia, including alterations in glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in erythrocytes. There exists a related enzyme, human plasma GSH-Px (hpGSH-Px), that has not been previously examined in schizophrenia. METHODS: An enzyme-linked immunoassay was used to determine hpGSH-Px levels in male schizophrenicpatients (n = 39), using a within-subject, on-off haloperidol (HD) treatment design, compared with age- and gender-matched normal control subjects (n = 37). RESULTS:hpGSH-Px was not significantly different between normal control subjects and patients, consistent with our previous findings in erythrocyte GSH-Px. There were no significant treatment effects. hpGSH-Px was significantly and positively correlated with psychosis rating scores in patients both on and off HD treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Although not different from normal controls, hpGSH-Px levels in patients may reflect oxidative stress associated with greater psychosis severity. The present findings thus suggest that schizophrenicpatients, without obvious increase of endogenous antioxidant enzymes (e.g., hpGSH-Px), may be at risk for oxidative damage.
Authors: Kristin S Cadenhead; Amedeo Minichino; Skylar Kelsven; Jean Addington; Carrie Bearden; Tyrone D Cannon; Barbara A Cornblatt; Dan Mathalon; Thomas H McGlashan; Diana O Perkins; Larry J Seidman; Ming Tsuang; Elaine F Walker; Scott W Woods; Jeff Yao Journal: Schizophr Res Date: 2018-09-22 Impact factor: 4.939