Psychiatry Investig.  2016 Jul;13(4):420-426. 10.4306/pi.2016.13.4.420.

Decreased Prolidase Activity in Patients with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

• Demir S
• Bulut M
• Atli A
• Kaplan I
• Kaya MC
• Bez Y
• Özdemir P
• Sır A

• KMID: 2344740
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4306/pi.2016.13.4.420

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Many neurochemical systems have been implicated in the development of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The prolidase enzyme is a cytosolic exopeptidase that detaches proline or hydroxyproline from the carboxyl terminal position of dipeptides. Prolidase has important biological effects, and to date, its role in the etiology of PTSD has not been studied. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate prolidase activity in patients with PTSD.
METHODS
The study group consisted of patients who were diagnosed with PTSD after the earthquake that occurred in the province of Van in Turkey in 2011 (n=25); the first control group consisted of patients who experienced the earthquake but did not show PTSD symptoms (n=26) and the second control group consisted of patients who have never been exposed to a traumatic event (n=25). Prolidase activities in the patients and the control groups were determined by the ELISA method using commercial kits.
RESULTS
Prolidase activity in the patient group was significantly lower when compared to the control groups. Prolidase activity was also significantly lower in the traumatized healthy subjects compared to the other healthy group (p<0.01).
CONCLUSION
The findings of the present study suggest that the decrease in prolidase activity may have neuroprotective effects in patients with PTSD.

Keyword

PTSD; Prolidase activity; Neuroprotective

MeSH Terms

Cytosol
Dipeptides
Earthquakes
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Exopeptidases
Healthy Volunteers
Humans
Hydroxyproline
Methods
Neuroprotective Agents
Proline
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic*
Turkey
Dipeptides
Exopeptidases
Hydroxyproline
Neuroprotective Agents
Proline