title: Leukocyte telomerase activity and antidepressant efficacy in bipolar disorder.
abstract: Telomeres are DNA-protein complexes that cap linear DNA strands, protecting DNA from damage. Recently, shorten telomeres length has been reported in bipolar disorder (BD) and depression. The enzyme telomerase regulates telomeres׳ length, which has been associated with cellular viability; however it is not clear how telomerase may be involved in the pathophysiology and therapeutics of BD. In the present study, leukocyte telomerase activity was assessed in 28 medication-free BD depressed individuals (DSM-IV-TR criteria) at baseline and after 6 weeks of lithium therapy (n=21) also matching with 23 healthy controls. There was no difference between telomerase activity in subjects with BD depression (before or after lithium) and controls. Improvement of depressive symptoms was negatively associated with telomerase activity after 6 weeks of lithium therapy. This is the first study describing telomerase activity in BD research. Overall, telomerase activity seems not directly involved in the pathophysiology of short-term BD. Lithium׳s antidepressant effects may involve regulation at telomerase activity. Further studies with larger samples and long-term illness are also warranted.
authors.affiliation: Mood Disorders Program (GRUDA), Institute and Department of Psychiatry, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcio Gerhardt
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Soeiro-de-Souza
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunopharmacology, IBC, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Antonio L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunopharmacology, IBC, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Elvis C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Mateo
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuroscience, LIM-27, Institute and Department of Psychiatry, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil; Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Applied Neurosciences (NAPNA), University of São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcus V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Zanetti
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunopharmacology, IBC, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Flavia G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuroscience, LIM-27, Institute and Department of Psychiatry, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vanessa J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: de Paula
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuroscience, LIM-27, Institute and Department of Psychiatry, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Julia F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Bezerra
authors.affiliation: Mood Disorders Program (GRUDA), Institute and Department of Psychiatry, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ricardo A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuroscience, LIM-27, Institute and Department of Psychiatry, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil; Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Applied Neurosciences (NAPNA), University of São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Wagner F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Gattaz
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuroscience, LIM-27, Institute and Department of Psychiatry, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil; Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Applied Neurosciences (NAPNA), University of São Paulo, Brazil; ETPB, Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, and Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, United States. Electronic address: machadovieirar@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Machado-Vieira
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000201:enzymology*; D008094:Lithium / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D019098:Telomerase / Q000378:metabolism*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D008094:Lithium; D019098:Telomerase
keywords: Bipolar disorder; Depression; Epigenetics; Lithium; Telomerase; Treatment