Expression of POU-domain transcription factor, Oct-6, in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression.
BACKGROUND
The POU-domain transcription factor Oct-6 has been reported to be differentially expressed between schizophrenic and control post-mortem brains. In this study, we attempted to replicate this finding and to discover whether Oct-6 was also dysregulated in bipolar disorder and major depression.


METHODS
Oct-6 mRNA and protein expression were determined by in-situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry respectively in sections of post-mortem brain.


RESULTS
We did not observe any differences in Oct-6 expression between any of the groups under study. Oct-6 mRNA and protein was identically expressed in the hippocampal and cortical regions of most specimens in all groups, including controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Oct-6 is, therefore, unlikely to be a specific marker for any psychological disorder; rather its expression in controls suggests that it is normally expressed in most adult brains.
Ubhi
Kirenjeet
K
Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London, Denmark Hill, London, UK. spnekju@iop.kcl.ac.uk
Price
Jack
J
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002423:Cause of Death; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000378:metabolism; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005629:Frozen Sections; D015870:Gene Expression; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050816:Octamer Transcription Factor-6 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D015415:Biomarkers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D050816:Octamer Transcription Factor-6