Stimulatory G-protein alpha-subunit mRNA levels are not increased in autopsied cerebral cortex from patients with bipolar disorder.
Increased alpha-subunit (alpha s) levels of both the 45- and 52-kDa isoforms of the stimulatory guanine nucleotide binding protein (G-protein), have been found in postmortem brain and mononuclear leukocytes from patients with bipolar disorder (BD). The pathophysiological mechanism responsible for increased alpha s protein levels is unknown, however, it may involve increased expression of the gene encoding this protein. To assess this possibility, alpha s mRNA levels were determined by RT-PCR in postmortem brain from 10 subjects with an antemortem diagnosis of BD and age- and sex-matched control subjects in whom we had previously reported increased alpha s protein levels. There were no significant differences in alpha s mRNA levels in frontal, temporal, or occipital cortex between BD and control subjects. Cerebral cortex alpha s mRNA levels did not correlate with age or postmortem interval. These findings do not support the notion that higher alpha s levels found in BD postmortem brain are a result of increased gene expression.
Department of Psychiatry, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ont. Canada. youngt@fhs.mcmaster.ca
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Young
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Asghari
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Li
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Kish
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Fahnestock
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Warsh
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001344:Autopsy; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D019205:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gs / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019205:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gs