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Dopaminergic receptor D5 mRNA expression is increased in circulating lymphocytes of Tourette syndrome patients
Marco Ferrari1, Cristiano Termine, Diego Franciotta
1Department of Clinical Medicine, Section of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Insubria, Via Ottorino Rossi n. 9, 21100 Varese VA, Italy.
Abstract:
Tourette syndrome (TS) is a neuropsychiatric disorder in which dopaminergic dysfunction and immune system abnormalities seem to coexist. Using real-time PCR, we determined mRNA expression of dopamine receptors (DRs) D1-5 in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) from 15 TS patients and 15 sex- and age-matched healthy controls (HCs). DRD5 mRNA levels in cells from TS were higher than in cells from HCs. In TS patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder, DRD5 mRNA levels in PBLs showed a highly positive correlation with the severity of compulsive symptoms. DRD5 mRNA upregulation in PBLs from TS patients may represent a peripheral marker of dopaminergic dysfunction and supports the involvement of the immune system in TS.
