Agmatinase and Telomerase Levels in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Children.

OBJECTIVE: Trauma is the impairment of an individual's ability to integrate emotions and cognitions after experiencing events. Psychiatric disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop in individuals following traumatic events. Traumas experienced by children can cause PTSD, just as it is encountered in adults who experience trauma. Alterations in the polyamine synthesis pathway and telomerase activity have been reported to be associated with cellular stress responses and neurobiological processes. Therefore, this study examines polyamine synthesis pathway enzyme levels and telomerase enzyme levels in children with PTSD to investigate their potential roles in the development of the disorder.

METHODS: Agmatinase (AGMAT) and telomerase enzyme levels were analyzed using ELISA in the blood serum of children with PTSD and control group.

RESULTS: Agmatinase and telomerase levels were found to be statistically significantly increased in the PTSD group. The mean AGMAT level in the PTSD group was 59.04 ± 19.36 ng/mL, while this value was 38.35 ± 17.36 ng/mL in the control group, and the difference between the groups was found to be statistically significant (P < .001). Similarly, in terms of telomerase levels, telomerase levels were statistically significantly higher in the PTSD group, with a mean of 178.90 ± 51.99 IU/mL, while this value was 159.10 ± 82.10 IU/mL in the control group (P < .05).

CONCLUSION: The findings suggest a possible link between AGMAT and telomerase levels and PTSD.