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Is the dopamine D3 receptor mRNA on blood lymphocytes help to for identification and subtyping of schizophrenia?

M Urhan-Kucuk1, M E Erdal, M E Ozen

  • 1Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Adiyaman University, Faculty of Science and Letter,, Adiyaman, Turkey. meralurhan@hotmail.com

Molecular Biology Reports
|November 27, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Investigating dopamine receptor D3 (DRD3) mRNA levels in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of schizophrenia patients revealed significant differences among subtypes. However, DRD3 mRNA levels in PBL did not differ between patients and controls, suggesting it may indicate disease severity rather than serve as a diagnostic marker.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Psychiatry
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Schizophrenia is a neuropathological disorder linked to dopamine and its receptors.
  • Dopamine receptor (DRD3, DRD4, DRD5) mRNA subtypes are expressed in human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate DRD3 mRNA levels in PBL of schizophrenia patients.
  • To determine if DRD3 mRNA levels in PBL can serve as a peripheral marker for schizophrenia.

Main Methods:

  • Studied 55 schizophrenic patients and 51 healthy subjects.
  • Isolated RNA from lymphocytes.
  • Performed reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for DRD3 mRNA.

Main Results:

  • A significant difference in PBL DRD3 mRNA levels was found among schizophrenia subtypes (P=0.030).
  • No significant difference in PBL DRD3 mRNA levels was detected between schizophrenic patients and control subjects.

Conclusions:

  • PBL DRD3 mRNA levels may aid in understanding schizophrenia and its clinical manifestations' severity.
  • DRD3 mRNA in PBL may not be a suitable peripheral diagnostic marker for schizophrenia.

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