Protein kinase C in platelets of depressed patients.
BACKGROUND
We studied the role of protein kinase C (PKC), a major regulatory enzyme and an important component of the phosphoinositide signaling system, in depression.


METHODS
PKC was determined using [3H]phorbol dibutyrate (PDBu) as the radioligand in the membranal and cytosolic fractions of platelets obtained from hospitalized drug-free depressed patients during a baseline period and from drug-free normal control subjects.


RESULTS
We observed that the [3H]PDBu binding was significantly higher in the cytosolic fraction obtained from platelets of depressed patients compared to normal control subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
Our studies indicate increased formation of PKC in platelets of depressed patients. The significance and mechanisms involved in increased PKC in the cytosolic fraction of platelets are unclear, but they suggest that increased PKC may be associated with the pathophysiology of depressive illness.
Pandey
G N
GN
Psychiatric Institute, University of Illinois at Chicago 60612, USA.
Dwivedi
Y
Y
Kumari
R
R
Janicak
P G
PG
D000328:Adult; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000201:enzymology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003600:Cytosol / Q000201:enzymology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000201:enzymology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015240:Phorbol 12,13-Dibutyrate; D010980:Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000097:blood*; D011869:Radioligand Assay; D014316:Tritium
D010980:Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins; D014316:Tritium; D015240:Phorbol 12,13-Dibutyrate; D011493:Protein Kinase C