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Can BDNF and IL-2 be indicators for the diagnosis in schizophrenic patients with depressive symptoms?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 May 2014

Salih Saygin Eker ,
Ebru Oztepe Yavasci ,
Sengul Cangur ,
Selcuk Kirli  and
Emre Sarandol
Salih Saygin Eker*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Uludag University Medical Faculty, Bursa, Turkey
Ebru Oztepe Yavasci
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Uludag University Medical Faculty, Bursa, Turkey
Sengul Cangur
Affiliation:
Department of Biostatistics, Duzce University Medical Faculty, Duzce, Turkey
Selcuk Kirli
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Uludag University Medical Faculty, Bursa, Turkey
Emre Sarandol
Affiliation:
Department of Biochemistry, Uludag University Medical Faculty, Bursa, Turkey
*
Salih Saygin Eker, Uludag University Medical Faculty, Department of Psychiatry, Bursa, Turkey. Tel: 90.224.2951840; Fax: 90.224.4428852; E-mail: saygineker@yahoo.com
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Abstract

Objective

The aim of the current study is to determine whether serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) can be biological indicators for the diagnosis of schizophrenia in patients with depressive symptoms.

Method

Forty-seven patients (11 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia, 16 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and comorbid depression and 20 patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder) and 20 healthy subjects were enrolled. The Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale, the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale were used for assessment. The serum BDNF and IL-2 levels of all the subjects were studied.

Results

Decreased levels of serum BDNF and increased levels of serum IL-2 were found in the patients diagnosed with either schizophrenia, schizophrenia with depression, or major depressive disorder (p = 0.049, p = 0.010; p = 0.001 and p = 0.044; p = 0.027, p = 0.003; respectively) compared with control group. There were no significant differences between the patient groups in their serum BDNF and IL-2 levels.

Conclusions

The present study suggests that neurotrophic factors and immune system changes are involved in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia with or without depressive symptomatology. However, the data do not clarify whether depressive symptoms in schizophrenia occur as a dimension of schizophrenia or as symptoms of major depression that is comorbid with schizophrenia.

Keywords

comorbiditydepressionpsychoneuroimmunologyschizophrenia
Type
Original Articles
Information
Acta Neuropsychiatrica , Volume 26 , Issue 5 , October 2014 , pp. 291 - 297
Copyright
Copyright © Scandinavian College of Neuropsychopharmacology 2014 

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