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Elevated serum levels of the glial marker protein S100B are not specific for schizophrenia or mood disorders

Molecular Psychiatry volume 14, pages 235–237 (2009)Cite this article

Recently, it was suggested that the glial protein S100B is involved in the pathogenesis of both, schizophrenia and mood disorders. Our meta-analysis demonstrates that serum S100B is higher in major depressive disorder than bipolar I disorder, although S100B might not differentiate between schizophrenia and mood disorders.

S100B is a calcium-binding protein that may act as growth and/or differentiation factor for neurons and astrocytes.1, 2 It is located in and can be actively released from glial cells, namely oligodendro- and astroglia in the human brain.3 Accordingly, one might consider S100B as a glial marker protein. Recently, it has been discussed that S100B plays a role in the pathogenesis of mood disorders and schizophrenia.1, 2, 4, 5 S100B is a susceptibility gene for bipolar disorder with psychosis, schizophrenia and cognitive dysfunction.6, 7, 8 Various studies have shown that S100B is altered in serum and cerebrospinal fluid in mood disorders and schizophrenia.1, 2, 4, 5 It is related to clinical symptoms, that is the severity of depression, negative symptoms in schizophrenia, and influenced by serotonergic and antipsychotic drugs.9 To validate the specificity of serum S100B we synthesize and compare here the results from a systematic and quantitative meta-analysis for schizophrenia and mood disorders (for details such as inclusion/exclusion criteria see references Schroeter4, Schroeter5). We updated the meta-analysis to June 2008 by adding another study on schizophrenia.10

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Max-Planck-Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany

    M L Schroeter

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Queen Elisabeth Hospital, Berlin, Germany

    M L Schroeter

  3. Day Clinic of Cognitive Neurology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany

    M L Schroeter

  4. Department of Psychiatry, University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany

    J Steiner

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  1. M L Schroeter
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  2. J Steiner
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Correspondence to M L Schroeter.

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Schroeter, M., Steiner, J. Elevated serum levels of the glial marker protein S100B are not specific for schizophrenia or mood disorders. Mol Psychiatry 14, 235–237 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/mp.2008.85

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