Blind verification of elevated platelet autoantibodies in serum of schizophrenic patients--part II: adult subjects.

Background: In our preceding study, we assayed in a blind fashion the blood sera of young normal subjects and schizophrenic patients for levels of platelet autoantibodies (PAA). The recorded PAA titers of the schizophrenic patients were significantly higher than those of the normal subjects. This observation has lent support to this test being used as an objective evaluation of schizophrenia in young subjects in the future.

Blind verification of elevated platelet autoantibodies in serum of schizophrenic patients--part I: young subjects.

Background: It has been hypothesized that the etiology of schizophrenia, in a distinct group of patients, originates from an autoimmune reaction against platelets. Previous open screenings have recorded significantly higher blood titers of platelet-associated autoantibodies (PAA) in schizophrenic patients as compared to normal healthy subjects. In addition, young schizophrenic patients at the early stages of their disorder displayed higher PAA titers than older patients with a longer duration of the disorder.

A conformational epitope which detects autoantibodies from schizophrenic patients.

We previously found autoantibodies against platelets in schizophrenic patients. One of the platelet proteins that bind these antibodies is enolase. Here, we describe the isolation and sequencing of an immunoreactive peptide after enzymatic digestion of enolase.