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Increased extracellular clusterin in the prefrontal cortex in schizophrenia
Katina M Athanas1, Sarah L Mauney1, Tsung-Ung W Woo2
1Laboratory of Cellular Neuropathology, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, United States.
Clusterin, a glycoprotein involved in cellular processes, is elevated extracellularly in schizophrenia patients. This may indicate a neuroprotective response to the disease's underlying pathophysiology.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Clusterin (CLU) gene expression is significantly altered in specific neurons in the cerebral cortex of schizophrenia subjects.
- Clusterin is a glycoprotein involved in various cellular functions, including cell survival and homeostasis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate clusterin protein dysregulation in the brain of schizophrenia patients.
- To determine if extracellular clusterin levels are altered in schizophrenia.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative analysis of intracellular and extracellular clusterin protein levels.
- Comparison between schizophrenia subjects and control groups.
Main Results:
- Intracellular clusterin levels were not significantly changed in schizophrenia subjects.
- Extracellular, secreted clusterin levels were significantly increased in schizophrenia subjects.
Conclusions:
- Schizophrenia is associated with increased extracellular clusterin.
- Elevated extracellular clusterin may represent a compensatory neuroprotective mechanism against schizophrenia-related neuropathology.
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