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Research Article| Volume 30, ISSUE 10, P966-972, November 15, 1991

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Changes in serine metabolism by a serum factor present in a group of episodic psychotic patients

  • D. Fekkes
    Correspondence
    Address reprint requests Dr. D. Fekkes, Section Pathophysiology of Behaviour, Medical Faculty, Erasmus University Rotterdam, P.O. Box 1738, 3000 DR Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
    Affiliations
    From the Biological Psychiatry Group, Departments of Pharmacology and Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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  • L. Pepplinkhuizen
    Affiliations
    From the Biological Psychiatry Group, Departments of Pharmacology and Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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  • J. Bruinvels
    Affiliations
    From the Biological Psychiatry Group, Departments of Pharmacology and Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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      Abstract

      Addition of serum, obtained from patients suffering from an acute psychosis characterized by dysperceptions, to the culture media of fibroblasts altered the amino acid metabolism in these cells. After subculturing of fibroblasts in the presence of serum obtained from these patients, the concentrations of both serine and methionine were decreased in the medium as well as in the fibroblasts. Moreover, the concentration of taurine in the fibroblasts was increased. The specific activities of serine hydroxymethyltransferase and cystathionine β-synthase were also measured in the fibroblasts. It was found that both enzyme activities were significantly higher after subculturing with patients' serum as compared with serum obtained from healthy controls. It is concluded that a factor, present in the serum of these acute psychotic patients, is responsible for the observed changes in serine, taurine, and methionine concentrations in the fibroblasts as well as for the increased enzyme activities mentioned.
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