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Serum zonulin and claudin-5 levels in patients with schizophrenia

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Abstract

The aim of this research was to assess whether or not changes in the concentrations of serum zonulin and claudin-5 in patients with schizophrenia could have etiopathogenetic importance. In previous studies, the data regarding the relationship between intestinal and blood–brain barrier (BBB) permeability and the etiology of schizophrenia have been limited. In this study, we assumed that there may be a difference in serum zonulin and claudin-5 levels in patients with schizophrenia, which may affect the severity of the disease. Fifty schizophrenia patients and 50 healthy controls were included in this study. The patients were administered the Positive Symptoms Assessment Scale (SAPS) and Negative Symptoms Assessment Scale (SANS) to determine the severity of symptoms. Venous blood samples were collected, and the serum zonulin and claudin-5 levels were measured. The mean serum zonulin levels were significantly increased in patients with schizophrenia when compared to the control group. Serum claudin-5 levels were decreased in the schizophrenia patients when compared to the controls. The present study indicates that zonulin is increased and claudin-5 is decreased in patients with schizophrenia. These findings extend the existing knowledge on the dysregulation of intestinal permeability, especially zonulin, and BBB, especially claudin-5, and show that both proteins may be involved in the etiopathogenesis of schizophrenia.

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Acknowledgements

We wish to thank all patients for participating in this study. We also wish to thank the Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit of Süleyman Demirel University for their financial support (Number: TTU-2019-6946).

Funding

This study was funded by Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit of Süleyman Demirel University (Number: TTU-2019-6946).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Süleyman Demirel University Medicine Faculty, 32260, Isparta, Turkey

    Ayşe Usta, Faruk Kılıç & Arif Demirdaş

  2. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Süleyman Demirel University Medicine Faculty, Isparta, Turkey

    Ümit Işık

  3. Department of Biochemistry, Süleyman Demirel University Medicine Faculty, Isparta, Turkey

    Duygu Kumbul Doğuç & Mustafa Bozkurt

Authors
  1. Ayşe Usta
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  2. Faruk Kılıç
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Correspondence to Faruk Kılıç.

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Communicated by Andrea Schmitt.

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Usta, A., Kılıç, F., Demirdaş, A. et al. Serum zonulin and claudin-5 levels in patients with schizophrenia. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 271, 767–773 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-020-01152-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-020-01152-9

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