Background and Goal. The aim was to examine the serum levels of homocysteine (Hcy) and their associations with the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene C677T polymorphism in patients with schizophrenia and mood disorders as well as controls. Materials and Methods. There were 198 patients: 82 with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, 22 with mood disorders, and 94 controls. The level of Hcy was determined by an isocratic high-performance liquid chromatography system. MTHFR C677T polymorphism was analysed using the restriction fragment length polymorphism-polymerase chain reaction method. Results. The average level of Hcy was 11.94 ± 5.6 μmol/L for patients with schizophrenia, 11.65 ± 3.3 μmol/L for patients with affective disorders, versus 6.80 ± 2.93 μmol/L in a control. The highest level of Hcy has been observed in patients with episodic-recurrent course of schizophrenia (11.30 ± 7.74 μmol/L), paranoid schizophrenia continuous (12.76 ± 5.25 μmol/L), and in patients with affective disorders (11.65 ± 3.26 μmol/L). An association between the MTHFR gene C677T polymorphism and Hcy level was found by linear regression analysis (r = 1.41, P = 0.029). Conclusions. The data indicate a link between Hcy levels and schizophrenia and mood disorders. No associations between the level of Hcy in patients with schizophrenia and mood disorders and the MTHFR C677T polymorphism were found.

The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that serotonin O-sulphate (5-HT-SO4) could be quantified in human plasma using modern liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method as well as develop and validate that method. First, a suitable LC-MS method for detection of 5-HT-SO4 in human plasma samples was developed and validated. Second, a Pilot phase involving four healthy volunteers was executed, where a basal plasma level of 5-HT-SO4 was measured for all subjects and for one after the intake of 100 mg of a 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) -containing food supplement used to promote serotonergic stimulation of the central nervous system. The basal level of 0.9–2.8 ng/mL of 5-HT-SO4 was observed. The changes of plasma 5HT-O-SO4 showed 1.2 ng/mL before and 22.6 ng/mL 1 h after stimulation. Finally, nine healthy volunteers were selected for the Study phase, where a basal plasma level of 5-HT-SO4 was measured before and after the intake of 5-HTP. One hour after stimulation, six study subjects showed a decrease in 5-HT-SO4 levels while three subjects showed an increase. The changes of plasma 5HT-O-SO4 from the Study phase showed an average 5-HT-SO4 level of 19.2 ng/mL before and 15.7 ng/mL 1 h after stimulation indicating ability of method to emphasize quantitative changes. This was the first study in which naturally occurring 5-HT-SO4 was detected in the samples of human plasma obtained from healthy volunteers. The method developed herein is specific to the measurement of 5-HT-SO4, sensitive enough to quantify intra-individual changes in the samples of plasma and opens up new possibilities to evaluate pathways of serotonin metabolism by minimally invasive methods. The discovery of novel biomarkers using such approaches is increasingly required to expedite development of mechanism-based therapeutics and patient stratification.

The level of Hcy is higher in the blood of a heterozygotic person who becomes ill with schizophrenia, and the process of the illness is more serious and with more typical affective disorders.

Background:Homocysteine (Hcy) is studied in relation to gender dependent schizophrenia in young males and to affective disorders in females. In relation with Hcy also the level of Vit.B12 and folic acid is investigated as they have ability to decrease the level of Hcy essentially.Aim:The aim of our study is to get information about serum level of Hcy, Vit.B12 and folic acid in patients with schizophrenia's spectrum, autism, mood disorders and mental retardation and their possible link.Material and methods:In the study 91 patients of Children's Psychiatric Hospital with above-mentioned diagnosis were involved, 37 of them with schizophrenia's spectrum disorders. Patients were selected according to their diagnosis (in line with ICD-10) and current clinical state. Each diagnosis and clinical state was coded depending on its severity and course of disease.The level of Hcy was stated by isocratic HPLC system with fluorometric detection (Shimadzu LC-20, model RF-10AxL).Results:Correlation among diagnosis, severity of disease and level of Hcy was r = -0.401 (p < 0.01). It was found out that the level of Hcy was the highest in 14 schizophrenic patients with acute condition and adverse course of disease.Conclusion:First obtained data are indicative of potential link among the level of Hcy and schizophrenia and its severity, thereby it allows advancing hypothesis that Hcy can be as one of risk factors of schizophrenia.

No abstract