Concentration Levels of BDNF, PI3K, AKT, and CREB Predict Depressed Mood and Impulsive Behavior in First-Episode Drug- Naive Schizophrenia Patients

Abstract

Abstract Background The pathogenesis of schizophrenia remains unknown. Nearly half of the patients with schizophrenia have a combination of depressive symptoms and even some impulsive behaviors. Accurate diagnosis of this disorder has been a great challenge. Molecular biology plays an important role in the study of its pathogenesis. Objective This study is committed to analyze the correlation between depressed mood and impulsive behavior and serum protein factor levels in first-episode drug-naive schizophrenia patients. Methods Seventy first-episode drug-naive schizophrenia patients and 69 healthy controls from a physical examination center during the same period participated in this study. Peripheral blood concentrations of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (AKT), and cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) were measured using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) in the patient and control groups. The Chinese version of the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS) was used to assess depressed mood. The Chinese version of the Short UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale (S-UPPS-P) was used to assess impulsive behavior. Results Serum BDNF, PI3K and CREB concentrations in the patient group were lower than those in the control group, while AKT concentrations were higher than those in the control group. The total CDSS and S-UPPS-P scores were higher in the patient group than in the control group. The total CDSS score was negatively correlated with the concentrations of BDNF, PI3K and CREB, and positively correlated with the concentrations of AKT in the patient group. The total S-UPPS-P score in the patient group was negatively correlated with BDNF, PI3K, and CREB concentrations and positively correlated with AKT concentrations. Premeditation subscore of S-UPPS-P was not significantly correlated with BDNF, PI3K, AKT, and CREB concentrations. Conclusion Our findings show significant differences between the levels of BDNF, PI3K, AKT, and CREB concentrations in the peripheral blood of patients with first-episode drug-naive schizophrenia and controls. The concentration levels of these serum proteins could be used as biomarkers for the prediction of mood and impulsive behavior in schizophrenia.