Inflammation-neopterin-tetrahydrobiopterin pathway and nitric oxide (NO) levels in adolescents with obsessive compulsive disorder

Aim: The underlying biological mechanisms obsessive compulsive disorder are still poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to compare levels of serum TGF-beta1, TNF-alfa, IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-2, IL-10, IL-17 and neopterin, tetrahydrobiopterin, nitric oxide (NO) levels in patients with obsessive compulsive disorder and healthy controls. Method: Twenty-nine patients with obsessive compulsive disorder (medication-free) and 28 healthy controls were included in the study. Serum TGF-beta1, TNF-alfa, IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-2, IL-10, IL-17 and neopterin, tetrahydrobiopterin, nitric oxide (NO) levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: As a result of the comparison between obsessive compulsive disorder and control group; Serum TGF-beta1 (p = 0.002) and Tetrahydrobiopterin (p = 0.001) levels were significantly lower, Neopterin (p = 0.021) and Nitric Oxide (p = 0.013) levels were significantly higher in the OCD group compared to the control group. Conclusion: These results suggest that inflammatory cytokines and neopterin, tetrahydrobiopterin, NO levels may be implicated in the pathophysiology of obsessive compulsive disorder. More study with the adolescent age group is needed to clarify this relationship. Keywords: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Adolescent, Inflammation, Cytokine, TGF-beta1, Neopterin, Tetrahydrobiopterin, Nitric Oxide