AUTHOR=Sanches Marsal , Colpo Gabriela D. , Cuellar Valeria A. , Bockmann Taya , Rogith Deevakar , Soares Jair C. , Teixeira Antonio L. 

TITLE=Decreased Plasma Levels of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Among Patients With Bipolar Disorder

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neuroscience

VOLUME=Volume 15 - 2021

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnins.2021.617888

DOI=10.3389/fnins.2021.617888

ISSN=1662-453X

ABSTRACT=Background: Dysfunctions in the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) seem to be involved in the pathophysiology of several mental illness, including schizophrenia and mood disorders. We carried out a cross-sectional study assessing the levels of RAS-related molecules among bipolar disorder (BD) patients compared to healthy controls. Methods: our sample consisted of 30 outpatients with BD type 1 (10 males, 20 females, age= 35.53 + 10.59 years, 14 euthymic, 16 experiencing mood episodes) and 30 healthy controls (10 males, 20 females, age= 34.83 + 11.49 years). Plasma levels of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), angiotensin-II (Ang II), and angiotensin (1-7) [Ang-(1–7)] were determined by ELISA. Results:  BD patients experiencing ongoing mood episodes had significantly lower ACE levels compared to controls (median: 459.00 vs. 514.10, p< 0.05). There was no association between the levels of these biomarkers and clinical parameters. Conclusions: Our findings support the involvement of RAS dysfunction in the pathophysiology of BD. Considering the potential therapeutic implications linked to a better understanding of the role of RAS dysfunction in BD, studies allowing a better characterization of RAS-related molecules level and activity across different mood states are of high interest.