Plasma Beta-Iii Tubulin, Neurofilament Light Chain And Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein Are Associated With Neurodegeneration And Progression In Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a progressive disorder characterized by multiple psychotic relapses. After every relapse, patients may not fully recover, and this may lead to a progressive loss of functionality. Pharmacological treatment represents a key factor to minimize the biological, psychological and psychosocial impact of the disorder. The number of relapses and the duration of psychotic episodes induce a potential neuronal damage and subsequently, neurodegenerative processes. Thus, a comparative study was performed, including forty healthy controls and forty-two SZ patients divided into first-episode psychosis (FEP) and chronic SZ (CSZ) subgroups, where the CSZ sub group was subdivided by antipsychotic treatment. In order to measure the potential neuronal damage, plasma levels of beta -III tubulin, neurofilament light chain (Nf-L), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were performed. The results revealed that the levels of these proteins were increased in the SZ group compared to the control group (P<0.05). Moreover, multiple comparison analysis showed highly significant levels of -III tubulin (P=0.0002), Nf-L (P=0.0403) and GFAP (P<0.015) in the subgroup of CSZ clozapine-treated. In conclusion, -III tubulin, Nf-L and GFAP proteins may be potential biomarkers of neurodegeneration and progression in SZ.