Neuroligand binding endophenotypes in blood cells distinguish two subsets of borderline personality disorder patients.
Neurotransmitter ligand binding in blood cells was assessed in borderline personality disorder (BDP) patients, testing the possibility that different biochemical endophenotypes might lie beneath a specific clinical presentation. The density of peripheral benzodiazepine receptors (PBR) and serotonin transporters were assessed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and platelets, respectively, showing a decrease of both parameters. Moreover, a further significant decrease of PBR in PBMC was shown for those patients with a depressive trait. Further confirmation of the presence of different molecular endophenotypes underlying the dissimilar clinical presentations in BPD may advance our possibility of successfully treating these patients.
Begni
Barbara
B
Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Technologies, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy.
Tremolizzo
Lucio
L
Andreoni
Simona
S
Contri
Margherita
M
Uccellini
Orlando
O
Neri
Francesca
F
Ferrarese
Carlo
C
D000293:Adolescent; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000097:blood*; D006403:Hematologic Tests / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism*; D010641:Phenotype; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000097:blood*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood*
D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D012701:Serotonin