Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
8
pubmed:dateCreated
1994-8-24
pubmed:abstractText
Prolyl endopeptidase (PEP) is a serine proteinase, which may cleave peptides that are involved in the pathophysiology of major depression, such as arginine vasopressin, beta-endorphin, luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone, thyrotropin-releasing hormone, and maybe corticotropin-releasing hormone. PEP may be involved in activation of cell-mediated immunity, autoimmune and inflammatory responses, which repeatedly occur in severe depression. The present study investigates serum PEP activity in 33 normal controls, 16 minor, 14 simple major, and 18 melancholic depressed subjects. Pre-dexamethasone and post-dexamethasone (DST) intact adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol values were determined in 33 depressed subjects. Serum PEP activity was significantly lower in depressed subjects compared to normal controls and in melancholic depressed subjects compared to minor and simple major depressed subjects. Up to 61.1% of the melancholic patients had serum PEP activities below the mean PEP values of normal controls minus two SDs. In the depressed study group, significant negative correlations between serum PEP activity and severity of illness, post-DST cortisol, and ACTH values were observed. There was a trend toward higher serum PEP activity with increasing age. It is hypothesized that lower serum PEP activity, and lower serum activity of other peptidases, may play a role in the neuroendocrine and immune pathophysiology of major depression.
pubmed:grant
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Apr
pubmed:issn
0006-3223
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:day
15
pubmed:volume
35
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
545-52
pubmed:dateRevised
2007-11-14
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1994
pubmed:articleTitle
Lower serum prolyl endopeptidase enzyme activity in major depression: further evidence that peptidases play a role in the pathophysiology of depression.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Psychiatry, University Hospitals of Cleveland, OH 44106.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S., Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S., Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't