Variations in differential gene expression patterns across multiple brain regions in schizophrenia.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Genetics
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Schizophrenia (SZ) research has predominantly focused on gene expression in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.
• Evidence suggests other brain regions are implicated in SZ, but comprehensive studies are less frequent.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and compare gene expression alterations across multiple brain regions in individuals with schizophrenia.
• To identify brain regions most affected by gene expression changes in schizophrenia.

Main Methods:

• Postmortem gene expression analysis using Affymetrix GeneChip microarrays.
• Examined frontal, cingulate, temporal, parietal, and occipital cortices, hippocampus, caudate nucleus, and putamen.
• Compared gene expression in 13 individuals with schizophrenia against 13 control subjects.

Main Results:

• The superior temporal cortex (BA22) exhibited the highest number of altered transcripts (~1200) in schizophrenia subjects.
• Anterior/posterior cingulate cortices and the hippocampus showed significant alterations, but fewer than the temporal cortex.
• The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (BA46) displayed substantially fewer gene expression changes (~33).

Conclusions:

• The superior temporal cortex, cingulate cortices, and hippocampus are significantly implicated in schizophrenia.
• These regions may be more susceptible to the disease processes of schizophrenia than previously emphasized areas.
• Findings redirect focus towards these regions for understanding schizophrenia pathophysiology.