title: Reduced expression of metabotropic glutamate receptor 2mRNA in T cells of ALS patients.
abstract: Metabotropic glutamate receptors alter the vulnerability of neurons to excitotoxic damage and are reported to display abnormal expression in the central nervous system of ALS patients. Using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, we investigated the mRNA expression of specific metabotropic glutamate receptor subtypes in T lymphocytes of 20 patients with sporadic ALS, compared with healthy age-matched control subjects and patients with other neurological disorders. The levels of metabotropic glutamate receptor 2 mRNA were markedly reduced, whereas the expression of other subtypes (1b, 3, 8) was similar to control levels. Our findings may provide a reliable peripheral marker of the glutamatergic dysfunction that characterizes ALS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Experimental Neurophysiology, Medical School, University of Athens, Eginition Hospital, 72-74 Vas. Sofias Avenue, Athens, Greece. cpoulop@med.uoa.gr
authors.forename: Cornelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Poulopoulou
authors.forename: Panagiota
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Davaki
authors.forename: Vassiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Koliaraki
authors.forename: Dimitra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kolovou
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Markakis
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vassilopoulos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D018094:Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate / Q000235:genetics*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018094:Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate; C108822:metabotropic glutamate receptor 2