Suppression of the P50 evoked response and neuregulin 1-induced AKT phosphorylation in first-episode schizophrenia.
OBJECTIVE
Diminished suppression of the P50 auditory evoked potential is a widely used sensory gating phenotype in the molecular genetic studies of schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between this phenotype and neuregulin 1-related intracellular signaling processes.


METHODS
The P50 evoked potential was recorded in 30 first-episode, never-medicated patients with schizophrenia and in 30 healthy comparison volunteers. Neuregulin 1-induced activation of the phosphoinositide 3'-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT)/glycogen synthase kinase-3beta system was characterized by the measurement of the phosphorylated AKT to total AKT ratio in peripheral B lymphoblasts.


RESULTS
Relative to comparison subjects, patients with first-episode schizophrenia displayed diminished P50 suppression and decreased neuregulin 1-induced AKT phosphorylation. There was a significant relationship between P50 suppression and AKT phosphorylation.


CONCLUSIONS
Decreased neuregulin 1-induced activation of the PI3K/AKT system is associated with impaired sensory gating in first-episode schizophrenia.
Kéri
Szabolcs
S
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Semmelweis University, Hungary. szkeri@phys.szote.u-szeged.hu
Beniczky
Sándor
S
Kelemen
Oguz
O
D000328:Adult; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020890:Neuregulin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000187:drug effects; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D010770:Phosphotransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D055139:Sensory Gating; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D014888:Wechsler Scales
D020890:Neuregulin-1; D010770:Phosphotransferases; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt