Serial analysis of gene expression in the frontal cortex of patients with bipolar disorder.
BACKGROUND
Bipolar disorder is a serious brain disease affecting more than a million individuals living in the USA. Epidemiological studies indicate a role for both genetic and environmental factors in the pathogenesis of this disorder.


OBJECTIVE
To identify RNA transcripts that are up- or down-regulated in the frontal cortex regions of individuals with bipolar disorder.


METHODS
Serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction were used to identify RNA transcripts which are differentially expressed in the frontal cortex of brains obtained postmortem from individuals with bipolar disorder compared with other psychiatric and control conditions.


RESULTS
Levels of RNA transcripts encoding the serotonin transporter protein and components of the NF-kappa B transcription factor complex are significantly increased in individuals with bipolar disorder compared with unaffected controls. Increased levels of expression of these RNA transcripts were also detected in the brains of some individuals with schizophrenia and unipolar depression.


CONCLUSIONS
The SAGE technique offers promise for the characterisation of complex human brain diseases.
Sun
Y
Y
Stanley Division of Developmental Neurovirology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Zhang
L
L
Johnston
N L
NL
Torrey
E F
EF
Yolken
R H
RH
D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000378:metabolism*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000378:metabolism*; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D016328:NF-kappa B; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D012313:RNA