Table 3 Summary of the key OL and AC biomarkers identified in schizophrenia.
Glial cell type | Markers | Description/Definition | Finding in schizophrenia |
|---|---|---|---|
Oligodendrocytes (OLs) | MAG (Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein) | Protein associated with myelin and the maintenance of myelinated axons. | Decreased expression observed, contributing to impaired myelination [56, 57]. |
CNPase (2’,3’-Cyclic-Nucleotide 3’-Phosphodiesterase) | Enzyme involved in myelin production and maintenance. | Reduced expression, implicating deficits in white matter integrity [57]. | |
OLIG2 (Oligodendrocyte Transcription Factor 2) | Transcription factor critical for oligodendrocyte differentiation and myelination. | Decreased expression linked to impaired oligodendrocyte maturation [35, 82]. | |
ADAM12 | Metalloprotease involved in cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, implicated in oligodendrocyte development. | Reduced density in the anterior cingulate white matter of schizophrenia patients [64]. | |
Oligodendrocytes (OLs) and Astrocytes (ACs) | S100B | Calcium-binding protein in astrocytes, involved in cellular functions like energy metabolism. | Increased levels in brain and serum, often linked to glial activation [67, 158]. |
Astrocytes (ACs) | GFAP (Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein) | Cytoskeletal protein expressed in mature astrocytes. | Altered GFAP expression with studies showing both increased and decreased levels in different brain regions [148, 150,151,152, 154]. |
Glutamine Synthetase (GS) | Enzyme that catalyzes glutamine synthesis from glutamate and ammonia. | Elevated expression in some regions (e.g., thalamus), affecting glutamate regulation [153, 155]. | |
DISC1 | Disrupted-in-Schizophrenia 1, a protein involved in neurodevelopment and synaptic function. | Decreased density of DISC1-positive astrocytes in the dentate gyrus [160]. | |
Glutaminase | Enzyme that converts glutamine to glutamate, crucial for excitatory neurotransmission. | Increased expression of glutaminase mRNA in the thalamus of schizophrenia patients [153]. | |
D-Amino Acid Oxidase | Enzyme that degrades D-serine and other D-amino acids. | Increased expression of D-amino acid oxidase in the hippocampus of schizophrenia patients [138]. |
