Possible involvement of post-dopamine D2 receptor signalling components in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.
Par-4 has been suggested to mediate dopamine neurotransmission. Dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) activation induces a signalling complex of AKT1, PP2A and beta-arrestin2 which dephosphorylates/inactivates AKT1 thereby activating GSK-3beta, transducing dopamine-dependent behaviour. DRD2 activation also results in down-regulation of PKA activity. Among other substrates PKA phosphorylates GSK-3beta. Prolonged DRD2 activation leads to its 'desensitization' which involves GRKs and beta-arrestins. beta-arrestin1 binds to phosphorylated receptors preventing further G-protein stimulation. This study examined whether Par-4, beta-arrestin1, AKT1 and GSK-3beta are involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Lymphocytes obtained from schizophrenia and bipolar patients and healthy controls recruited from the Beer-Sheva Mental Health Center were transformed by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) into lymphocyte-derived cell lines (LDCL). Post-mortem brain samples were obtained from the Rebecca L. Cooper Brain Bank, Parkville, Australia. The study was approved by the IRB committees of Beer-Sheva, Israel and Parkville, Australia. Levels of the specific proteins were assayed by Western blotting. beta-arrestin1 protein levels were significantly ~2-fold increased in LDCL from schizophrenia patients while Par-4 protein levels were unaltered. A 63% significant decrease was found in frontal cortex phospho-Ser9-GSK-3beta protein levels in schizophrenia but not in those of AKT1, Par-4 or beta-arrestin1. Elevated beta-arrestin1 protein levels in LDCL and decreased phospho-Ser9-GSK-3beta protein levels in post-mortem frontal cortex of schizophrenia patients vs. control groups support the possible involvement of these proteins in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. However, since we did not find differences in beta-arrestin1, AKT1 and Par-4 protein levels in post-mortem frontal cortex of schizophrenia patients and although GSK-3beta participates in other signalling cascades we can not rule out the possibility that the differences found reflect deviation in DRD2 signalling.
Stanley Research Center, Faculty of Health Science, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, and Mental Health Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
Shirly
S
Amar
Galit
G
Shaltiel
Liad
L
Mann
Alon
A
Shamir
Brian
B
Dean
Elizabeth
E
Scarr
Yuly
Y
Bersudsky
R H
RH
Belmaker
Galila
G
Agam
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D019390:Arrestins / Q000378:metabolism; D001344:Autopsy; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D065127:Dopamine D2 Receptor Antagonists; D005260:Female; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D000071679:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010766:Phosphorylation; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D018179:Receptors, Thrombin / Q000378:metabolism; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D014739:Victoria; D000071557:beta-Arrestins
D019390:Arrestins; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D065127:Dopamine D2 Receptor Antagonists; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D018179:Receptors, Thrombin; D000071557:beta-Arrestins; C494918:AKT1 protein, human; C000605506:GSK3B protein, human; D000071679:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; C000605508:Gsk3b protein, rat; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3; D006220:Haloperidol; C112908:protease-activated receptor 4