title: Increased expression of the astrocytic glutamate transporter GLT-1 in the prefrontal cortex of schizophrenics.
abstract: To verify whether altered glial glutamate uptake contributes to the reduced efficacy of glutamatergic transmission reported in the prefrontal cortex of schizophrenics, we studied the expression of GLT-1, the transporter responsible for most glutamate transport, in autoptic samples of prefrontal cortex using real time quantitative RT-PCR, immunocytochemistry, and functional assays. GLT-1 mRNA levels in medication-free patients were 2.5-fold higher than in controls, whereas they were normal or reduced in patients treated with antipsychotics. We also observed a 4-fold increase in L-[(3)H]-Glu uptake in Xenopus oocytes injected with mRNA from the prefrontal cortex of a medication-free schizophrenic and a 2-fold increase in GLT-1 protein in the same cortical area of another medication-free patient. Results suggest that GLT-1 mRNA, protein and function are increased in prefrontal cortex of schizophrenics.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Neurociencias, Universidad del País Vasco, Leioa, Vizcaya, Spain.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Matute
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Melone
authors.forename: Ainara
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vallejo-Illarramendi
authors.forename: Fiorenzo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Conti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D027342:Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000378:metabolism*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014981:Xenopus
chemical_list: D027342:Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter 2