The cAMP-dependent protein kinase A and brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression in lymphoblast cells of bipolar affective disorder.
BACKGROUND
Abnormalities in cAMP signaling and altered expression of downstream targets such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) have been postulated in patients with bipolar disorder (BD).


METHODS
The PKA activity and levels of (3)H-cAMP binding to PKA R regulatory subunits were measured in lymphoblasts from 10 BD and 10 control subjects. In addition, the possibility that BDNF expression could be altered in these cells has been explored.


RESULTS
Results indicate that PKA activity significantly increased (t-test; P<0.01), whereas the (3)H-cAMP binding to PKA R subunits decreased in cells from BD (t-test; P<0.02). The presence of 10 microM Sp-cAMP in culture 24 h before cell harvesting induced an increase in enzyme activity and a decrease in (3)H-cAMP binding sites (t-test; P<0.01), with a significant difference between BD and controls (t-test; P<0.01). This presence of Sp-cAMP also results in increased BDNF expression (t-test, P<0.01), but neither in resting cells, nor in stimulated cells, was any difference observed in BDNF expression between BD and controls (t-test, NS).


CONCLUSIONS
This study was conducted on a peripheral model cell, whose importance of BDNF is unknown.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that the upregulation of cAMP signaling observed in BD patients results in the normalization of the BDNF expression. Studies on signal transduction, gene expression and pathologies have implications for development of novel treatments.
Karege
Félicien
F
Geneva University Hospitals, Division of Neuropsychiatry, ch. Petit Bel. Air, 2; CH-1225 Chêne-Bourg, Geneva, Switzerland. felicien.karege@biolo.unige.ch
Schwald
Michèle
M
Papadimitriou
Philippe
P
Lachausse
Christine
C
Cissé
Mbaye
M
D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015398:Signal Transduction
D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases