A specific effect of antipsychotic drugs on protein synthesis in human lymphomononuclear cells

We have studied the effects of psychotropic drugs on patterns of protein synthesis in human lymphomononuclear cells by two-dimensional gel electrophoretic analysis. Drugs effective in treatment of schizophrenia specifically increased the relative synthesis of a 30-kDa polypeptide in cultured human lymphomononuclear cells whereas dopamine (DA) or psychoactive drugs lacking antipsychotic properties did not. The effect was stereospecific with respect to the clinically active and inactive isomers of flupenthixol. Synthesis of the 30-kDa polypeptide appears therefore to be correlated with antipsychotic properties but not with DA receptor binding. It is possible that such effects may be associated with the clinically beneficial effect of antipsychotic drugs in the brain.