en Neurochemistry and Neuropathology Neurochemistry and Neuropathology Original Research: Basic Science in Medicine Original Research: Basic Science in Medicine <span style="font-size:13pt"><span style="text-justify:kashida"><span style="text-kashida:0%"><span style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"><span style="font-style:italic"><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-style:normal">Background: </span></span></b><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-style:normal">To determine whether neuronal damage and/or neuroinflammation exist in the brain of suicide attempters and to find a novel biological biomarker to help distinguishing high risk individuals with suicide behavior, we aimed to measure glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), neuron specific enolase (NSE), and nerve growth factor (NGF) in suicide attempters.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br> <span style="font-size:13pt"><span style="text-justify:kashida"><span style="text-kashida:0%"><span style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"><span style="font-style:italic"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp; <b>Methods:</b> In the present case-control study, the serum level of NSE, GFAP, and NGF were measured quantitatively in 43 suicide attempters and 43 healthy control participants aged 18 to 35 years. Data were analyzed using the nonpaired t test followed by the Mann-Whitney posttest.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br> <span style="font-size:13pt"><span style="text-justify:kashida"><span style="text-kashida:0%"><span style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"><span style="font-style:italic"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp; <b>Results:</b> The mean serum level of NSE and GFAP were significantly higher in suicide attempters compared with healthy control individuals (</span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt">p</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-style:normal"> = 0.003, </span></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt">p</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-style:normal"> = 0.001, respectively), while no significant difference was detected in NGF serum level between the 2 groups.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br> <span style="font-size:13pt"><span style="text-justify:kashida"><span style="text-kashida:0%"><span style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"><span style="font-style:italic"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-style:normal">&nbsp;&nbsp; <b>Conclusion:</b> Our findings of increased level of NSE along with the significant increase in GFAP would propose the presence of low grade neuroinflammation in the brain of these participants. NSE/GFAP might be good markers that is easily accessible and can be considered as prognostic markers in high-risk suicide attempters.&nbsp; </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br> <span style="font-size:13pt"><span style="text-justify:kashida"><span style="text-kashida:0%"><span style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"><span style="font-style:italic"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"><span style="font-style:normal"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> GFAP, NGF, NSE, Neuronal Inflammation, Suicide Risk 771 775 http://mjiri.iums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-7327-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Maryam Bagheri maryam.bagheri@medilam.ac.irilam.ac.ir 200319475328460072552 200319475328460072552 No Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran Hori Ghaneialvar ghaneihuri@yahoo.com 200319475328460072553 200319475328460072553 No Biotechnology and Medicinal Plants Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran Mahin Oshnokhah ghaneihuri@yahoo.com 200319475328460072554 200319475328460072554 No Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran Sajjad Salari sajjad.salari@medilam.ac.ir 200319475328460072555 200319475328460072555 Yes Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran