Abstract:
Objective To explore the expression levels and correlations of serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor precursor(proBDNF), epidermal growth factor(EGF), and glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP) in patients with first-episode schizophrenia.
Methods One hundred and twenty patients with first-episode schizophrenia(observation group) and 90 healthy individuals with physical examinations during the same period(control group) were selected as the research subjects.The expression levels of proBDNF, EGF and GFAP in serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.The levels of proBDNF, EGF and GFAP between two groups were compared.The logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the relationship between serum proBDNF, EGF, GFAP and severity of first-episode schizophrenia.
Results There were 66 cases(55.00%) of first-episode schizophrenia mainly with positive symptoms and 54 cases(45.00%) of first-episode schizophrenia mainly with negative symptoms.The proBDNF of schizophrenia patients with negative and positive symptoms in the observation group was lower than that in control group, while the EGF and GFAP were higher than those in the control group.Moreover, the proBDNF of schizophrenia patients with negative symptoms was lower, and the EGF and GFAP were higher, and the differences were statistically significant(P < 0.05 to P < 0.01).The results of Pearson correlation analysis showed that proBDNF was negatively correlated with EGF and GFAP, and EGF was positively correlated with GFAP(P < 0.05).Among the 66 first-episode schizophrenia patients mainly presenting with positive symptoms, the positive symptom score, general pathological score, total positive and negative syndrome scale(PANSS) score, EGF and GFAP in the mild group were lower than those in moderate to severe group, while proBDNF was higher than that in moderate to severe group, and the differences were statistically significant(P < 0.05 to P < 0.01).Among the 54 first-episode schizophrenia patients mainly presenting with negative symptoms, the negative symptom score, general pathological score, total PANSS score, EGF and GFAP in the mild group were lower than those in moderate to severe group, while proBDNF was higher than that in moderate to severe group, and the differences were statistically significant(P < 0.05 to P < 0.01).High expression of proBDNF might be a protective factor for moderate to severe first-episode schizophrenia mainly characterized by positive/negative symptoms, high expression of EGF might be a risk factor for moderate to severe first-episode schizophrenia mainly characterized by positive symptoms, and high expression of GFAP might be a risk factor for moderate to severe first-episode schizophrenia mainly characterized by positive/negative symptoms(P < 0.05).
Conclusions The serum proBDNF is lowly expressed in first-episode schizophrenia, while serum EGF and GFAP are highly expressed.The low expression of proBDNF and high expression of EGF and GFAP are the influencing factors of high PANSS score(severe first-episode schizophrenia).When the expression level of serum proBDNF decreases, and the expression levels of serum EGF and GFAP increase, patients with first-episode schizophrenia may experience aggravated conditions.