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Increased mitochondrial complex I activity in platelets of schizophrenic patients
Dorit Ben-Shachar1, Rosa Zuk, Haifa Gazawi
1Laboratory of Psychobiology, Department of Psychiatry, Rambam Medical Center and B. Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Haifa, Israel.
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology
|April 4, 2001
Summary
Schizophrenia patients show significantly increased mitochondrial complex I activity in platelets, suggesting a potential peripheral biomarker for the disorder. This finding is specific to schizophrenia and not linked to medication or affective disorders.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biochemistry
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Dopamine and altered energy metabolism are implicated in schizophrenia pathophysiology.
- Dopamine influences energy metabolism via mitochondrial complex I activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate mitochondrial complex I and IV activity in platelets of schizophrenia patients.
- To compare these activities with patients suffering from affective disorders and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Mitochondria were isolated from blood platelets of 77 schizophrenia patients, 24 affective disorder patients (bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder), and 24 healthy controls.
- Activity of mitochondrial complexes I and IV was measured.
- Patients included medicated and unmedicated individuals meeting DSM-IV criteria.
Main Results:
- Schizophrenia patients exhibited a significant 240% increase in platelet mitochondrial complex I activity compared to controls (p < 0.001).
- No significant changes in complex IV activity were observed in schizophrenia patients.
- Patients with affective disorders did not show alterations in complex I activity.
Conclusions:
- Platelet mitochondrial complex I activity is specifically and selectively altered in schizophrenia, independent of medication.
- This platelet abnormality may reflect underlying brain alterations related to energy metabolism in schizophrenia.
- Platelet complex I activity could serve as a potential peripheral biomarker for schizophrenia.