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Calcineurin activity in children with Mental handicap
L Hema Bindu1, P Usha Rani, P P Reddy
1Department of Environmental Toxicology, Institute of Genetics and Hospital for Genetic Diseases, Ameerpet, 500 016 Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh India.
Insights
Serum calcineurin activity is decreased in children with idiopathic mental handicap. This suggests impaired calcineurin function may contribute to mental handicap by affecting neurotransmitter release in the brain.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biochemistry
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Calcineurin is a crucial Ca(2+)-Calmodulin dependent protein phosphatase involved in Ca(2+) signal transduction.
- Its role in neurological conditions, including mental handicap, requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential role of calcineurin in idiopathic mental handicap.
- To assess calcineurin levels in children diagnosed with idiopathic mental handicap.
Main Methods:
- Serum calcineurin activity was measured in 20 children (5-16 years) with idiopathic mental handicap.
- Levels were compared to those of age-matched normal subjects.
Main Results:
- Children with idiopathic mental handicap exhibited significantly decreased serum calcineurin activity compared to controls.
- This finding indicates a potential impairment in calcineurin function in this population.
Conclusions:
- Impaired calcineurin activity may contribute to mental handicap through its effects on neurotransmitter biosynthesis and release.
- Further research is warranted to confirm calcineurin's role in the etiology of mental handicap and explore potential therapeutic targets.
Abstract:
Calcineurin, a Ca(2+)-Calmodulin dependent protein phosphatase, is important for Ca(2+) mediated signal transduction. The main objective of this study was to examine the potential role of calcineurin in idiopathic mental handicap. Calcineurin levels were estimated in 20 children in the age group of 5-16 years with idiopathic mental handicap attending the Special. Education Centre for the Mentally Handicapped in Hyderabad. The results of the present study showed decreased activity of serum calcineurin in children with idiopathic mental handicap compared to those of normal subjects in the same age group. The observations thus suggest impaired calcineurin activity in children with mental handicap. Calcineurin that is involved in biosynthesis and release of neurotransmitters at the synaptic terminal brain is affected thereby causing brain damage and leading to mental handicap. Impaired calcineurin activity was already indicated in many human diseases such as Down's syndrome, Alzheimers, Brain ischemia, cardiac hypertrophy etc. It is therefore necessary to check the calcineurin levels in children with mental handicap to understand the role of calcineurin in the causation of Mental handicap.
