Evaluation of neurotransmitter receptor gene expression identifies GABA receptor changes: A follow-up study in antipsychotic-naive patients with first-episode psychosis

Author(s):Show less -

Ota, Vanessa Kiyomi ^{[1, 2]} ; Noto, Cristiano ^{[3, 2, 4]} ; Gadelha, Ary ^{[3, 2]} ; Santoro, Marcos Leite ^{[1, 2]} ; Ortiz, Bruno Bertolucci ^[3] ; Andrade, Elvis Henrique ^[3] ; Tasso, Brazilio Carvalho ^[4] ; Nery Spindola, Leticia Maria ^{[1, 2]} ; Silva, Patricia Natalia ^{[3, 1, 2]} ; Abilio, Vanessa Costhek ^{[3, 2, 5]} ; Cardoso Smith, Marilia de Arruda ^[1] ; Sato, Joao Ricardo ^{[6, 2]} ; Brietzke, Elisa ^{[3, 2]} ; Cordeiro, Quirino ^{[3, 4]} ; Bressan, Rodrigo Affonseca ^{[3, 2]} ; Belangero, Sintia Iole ^{[3, 1, 2]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Sao Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Morphol & Genet, Div Genet, BR-04023900 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Sao Paulo UNIFESP, LiNC Interdisciplinary Lab Clin Neurosci, BR-05039032 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Univ Fed Sao Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Psychiat, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[4] ISCMSP, Dept Psychiat, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[5] Univ Fed Sao Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Pharmacol, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[6] Univ Fed ABC, Ctr Math Computat & Cognit, Santo Andre - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH; v. 56, p. 130-136, SEP 2014.
• Web of Science Citations: 12

Abstract

A study of the gene expression levels in the blood of individuals with schizophrenia in the beginning of the disease, such as first-episode psychosis (FEP), is useful to detect gene expression changes in this disorder in response to treatment. Although a large number of genetic studies on schizophrenia have been conducted, little is known about the effects of antipsychotic treatment on gene expression. The aim of the present study was to examine differences in the gene expression in the blood of antipsychotic-naive FEP patients before and after risperidone treatment (N = 44) and also to verify the correlation with treatment response. In addition, we determined the correlations between differentially expressed genes and clinical variables. The expression of 40 neurotransmitter and neurodevelopment-associated genes was assessed using the RT2 Profiler (TM) PCR Array. The results indicated that the GABRR2 gene was downregulated after risperidone treatment, but no genes were associated with response to treatment and clinical variables after Bonferroni correction. GABRR2 downregulation after treatment can both suggest an effect of risperidone treatment or processes related to disease progression, either not necessarily associated with the improvement of symptoms. Despite this change was observed in blood, this decrease in GABRR2 mRNA levels might be an effect of changes in GABA concentrations or other systems interplay consequently to D2 blockage induced by risperidone, for example. Thus, it is important to consider that antipsychotics or the progression of psychotic disorders might interfere with gene expression. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 10/08968-6 - Investigation of genetic and epigenetic markers: a translational approach for schizophrenia treatment
• Grantee: Síntia Iole Nogueira Belangero
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 11/50740-5 - Prevention in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder from neuroscience to the community: a multiphase, multimodal and translational platform for research and intervention
• Grantee: Rodrigo Affonseca Bressan
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 13/10498-6 - Machine learning in neuroimaging: development of methods and clinical applications in psychiatric disorders
• Grantee: João Ricardo Sato
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 10/19176-3 - Gene expression and DNA methylation analysis in drug-naive first episode of psychosis patients
• Grantee: Vanessa Kiyomi Ota Kuniyoshi
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate