title: Lower glutamic acid decarboxylase 65-kDa isoform messenger RNA and protein levels in the prefrontal cortex in schizoaffective disorder but not schizophrenia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Altered gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) signaling in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) has been associated with cognitive dysfunction in patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. Levels of the GABA-synthesizing enzyme glutamic acid decarboxylase 67-kDa isoform (GAD67) in the PFC have been consistently reported to be lower in patients with these disorders, but the status of the second GABA-synthesizing enzyme, glutamic acid decarboxylase 65-kDa isoform (GAD65), remains unclear.
  
  
  METHODS
  GAD65 messenger RNA (mRNA) levels were quantified in PFC area 9 by quantitative polymerase chain reaction from 62 subjects with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and 62 matched healthy comparison subjects. In a subset of subject pairs, GAD65 relative protein levels were quantified by confocal immunofluorescence microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean GAD65 mRNA levels were 13.6% lower in subjects with schizoaffective disorder but did not differ in subjects with schizophrenia relative to their matched healthy comparison subjects. In the subjects with schizoaffective disorder, mean GAD65 protein levels were 19.4% lower and were correlated with GAD65 mRNA levels. Lower GAD65 mRNA and protein levels within subjects with schizoaffective disorder were not attributable to factors commonly comorbid with the diagnosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In concert with previous studies, these findings suggest that schizoaffective disorder is associated with lower levels of both GAD65 and GAD67 mRNA and protein in the PFC, whereas subjects with schizophrenia have lower mean levels of only GAD67 mRNA and protein. Because cognitive function is generally better preserved in patients with schizoaffective disorder relative to patients with schizophrenia, these findings may support an interpretation that GAD65 downregulation provides a homeostatic response complementary to GAD67 downregulation that serves to reduce inhibition in the face of lower PFC network activity.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Jill R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Glausier
authors.affiliation: Departments of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Sohei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kimoto
authors.affiliation: Departments of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Kenneth N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Fish
authors.affiliation: Departments of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Electronic address: lewisda@upmc.edu.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Lewis
mesh_terms: D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000201:enzymology*; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000201:enzymology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase; C401141:glutamate decarboxylase 2
keywords: Confocal Immunofluorescence; GABA; GAD65; GAD67; Inhibition; Postmortem