title: Explorative study on the expression of neuregulin-1 gene in peripheral blood of schizophrenia.
abstract: Neuregulin-1 (Nrg-1)(1) gene has been considered as a schizophrenia susceptibility gene. In order to observe the association of Nrg-1 gene with schizophrenia, the study was designed to investigate the effect of anti-psychotic treatment on the Nrg-1 mRNA expression in peripheral blood lymphocytes of the patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. The Nrg-1 mRNA expression in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) was measured by using semi-quantitative RT-PCR in 31 first-onset schizophrenia patients, 16 sibling controls and 31 no-sibship controls. Results showed that Nrg-1 mRNA expression in PBLs of patients was lower than that in other two control groups (F=6.722, P=0.002). However, as follow-up time extended, from the second week, Nrg-1 mRNA expression of PBLs in antipsychotic treated patients gradually increased and has obvious statistical significance compared the efficacy of taking anti-psychotic before and after therapy. These results demonstrated that Nrg-1 gene has association with schizophrenia. It is possible to select Nrg-1 mRNA expression of PBLs in schizophrenia patients as a potential therapeutic marker.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Mental Health of the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China.
authors.forename: Hong-Xing
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jing-Ping
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Lu-Xian
authors.initials: LX
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.forename: Wen-Qiang
authors.initials: WQ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Xuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ouyang
authors.forename: Zhi-Qing
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Jin-Song
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D020890:Neuregulin-1; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D005819:Genetic Markers; C094131:NRG1 protein, human; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D020890:Neuregulin-1; D012333:RNA, Messenger