Serotonin transporter mRNA expression in peripheral leukocytes of patients with major depression before and after treatment with paroxetine.
Serotonin transporter (5HTT) is thought to be involved in the pathophysiology of major depression and the target of antidepressants. We hypothesized that 5HTT mRNA levels in peripheral leukocytes may be associated with depressive states and the therapeutic response to antidepressant treatments. Fifteen patients with major depression and age-, sex-matched control subjects were studied. 5HTT mRNA levels were determined with quantitative real-time PCR method. 5HTT mRNA levels in leukocytes were significantly higher in depressive patients at baseline (before medication) than in control subjects. 5HTT mRNA levels were decreased significantly after 8 weeks of paroxetine medication compared with those at baseline. Our investigation suggested that the increased expression of 5HTT mRNA in peripheral leukocytes may be related with the pathophysiology of depression and its reduction after treatment may reflect the adaptive change induced by the antidepressant.
Iga
Jun-ichi
J
Department of Psychiatry, Course of Integrated Brain Sciences, The University of Tokushima School of Medicine, 3-18-15 Kuramoto-cho, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan.
Ueno
Shu-ichi
S
Yamauchi
Ken
K
Motoki
Ikuyo
I
Tayoshi
Sumiko
S
Ohta
Koshi
K
Song
Hongwei
H
Morita
Kyoko
K
Rokutan
Kazuhito
K
Ohmori
Tetsuro
T
D000328:Adult; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D017374:Paroxetine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D012016:Reference Values; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D017374:Paroxetine; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; C493230:SLC6A4 protein, human