Correlation of the serum decorin levels and the cognitive function in first-episode drug-native patients with schizophrenia / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the role of decorin (DCN) on the pathogenesis of schizophrenia by analyzing the correlation between serum DCN levels and cognitive impairment in the first-episode drug-native (FEDN) patients with schizophrenia.Methods 30 FEDN patients with schizophrenia and 30 age and gender matched healthy volunteers (control group) were enrolled.The psychopathological symptoms were assessed by the PANSS and the cognitive function was assessed by the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB).The serum DCN levels were measured by using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).The difference of DCN levels between the two groups were compared and the correlations of serum DCN levels to age,sex,the score of the MCCB and PANSS were analyzed.Results The serum DCN levels were lower in patients with schizophrenia than those in control group ((1.56±0.96) ng/ml vs (3.35± 1.71) ng/ml,P＜ 0.01).The serum DCN levels were positively correlated with the positive symptom score (r=0.41,P=0.03).The serum DCN levels were significantly negatively correlated with MCCB verbal fluency (r =-0.40,P =0.04),verbal memory (r=-0.42,P=0.02),visual memory (r=-0.39,P=0.04),continuous operation (r=-0.41,P=0.03),encoding symbols (r=-0.49,P=0.01),T line (r=-0.42,P=0.02) and total score (r=-0.55,P＜0.01),and after controlling the age and gender,the relationships were still exist.Conclusion It suggests that serum DCN levels are associated with cognitive function in first-episode patients with schizophrenia,and that DCN may be involved in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia.