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Elevated S100B levels in schizophrenia are associated with insulin resistance

Molecular Psychiatry volume 15, pages 3–4 (2010)Cite this article

Several studies have shown that circulating S100B protein levels are elevated in schizophrenia.1 This finding has been specifically attributed to glial pathology, as S100B is produced by astro- and oligodendroglial cells and is thought to act as a neurotrophic factor with effects on synaptogenesis, dopaminergic and glutamatergic neutrotransmission.2 However, this study suggests that overweight and insulin resistance may be alternatively responsible.

Adipose tissue has already been highlighted by others as an important extracerebral source of S100B, as it contains considerable amounts of S100B.3, 4 S100B secretion from adipocytes is reduced by insulin and is activated by physiological factors such as stress and fasting.5, 6 Therefore, weight gain or adipocyte dysfunction, including insulin insensitivity, could offer important alternative explanations for elevated S100B levels, given the increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome in schizophrenic patients and their first-degree relatives.7 The assumption of such extracerebral origins of altered S100B levels in schizophrenia is challenged by findings of elevated S100B in cerebrospinal fluid and postmortem brain tissue.8, 9 However, glial abnormalities in S100B release may also be caused by disrupted energy supply, as suggested by earlier cell culture studies.2 Accordingly, impaired insulin signaling has been observed in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of schizophrenic patients.10

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Authors and Affiliations

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

    J Steiner, M Walter, K Schiltz, B Panteli, M Brauner, H-G Bernstein & B Bogerts

  2. Institute of Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

    P Guest, M Herberth & S Bahn

  3. Department of Psychiatry, University of Munich, Munich, Germany

    A M Myint & M J Schwarz

  4. Institute of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland

    T Gos

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

    M L Schroeter

  6. Institute of Clinical Chemistry, Pathobiochemistry and Metabolic Medicine, University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany

    S Westphal

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  1. J Steiner
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Correspondence to J Steiner.

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Steiner, J., Walter, M., Guest, P. et al. Elevated S100B levels in schizophrenia are associated with insulin resistance. Mol Psychiatry 15, 3–4 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/mp.2009.87

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