title: Impairment and reorganization of the phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C enzymes in suicide brains.
abstract: A number of studies suggested that suicide may be associated with specific neurobiological abnormalities. Neurobiology studies focused upon abnormalities of signalling mechanisms with special regard to the serotonin system and the related Phosphoinositide (PI) signalling system. Previous data suggested the involvement of the PI-specific phospholipase C (PLC) family in neuropsychiatric disorders. By using PCR and morphological microscopy observation we examined the whole panel of expression of PLC isoforms in the brains of 28 individuals who committed suicide and in normal controls in order to evaluate the involvement of specific PLC isoforms. The overall PLC expression was reduced and a complex reorganization of the isoforms was observed. The knowledge of the complex network of neurobiological molecules and interconnected signal transduction pathways in the brain of suicide victims might be helpful to understand the natural history and the pathogenesis of the suicidal behavior. That might lead to obtain prognostic suggestions in order to prevent suicide and to new therapeutic agents targeting specific sites in this signalling cascade.
authors.affiliation: Sense Organs Department, Policlinico Umberto I, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Sapienza University of Rome, viale del Policlinico 155, 00185 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: ritalovasco@hotmail.it.
authors.forename: Vincenza Rita
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Lo Vasco
authors.affiliation: Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnology, Sapienza University- Polo Pontino, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leopizzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnology, Sapienza University- Polo Pontino, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Della Rocca
authors.affiliation: Unit of Forensic Medicine, Department of Public Health and Community, Policlinico G.B. Rossi, Verona University, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fais
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiological, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, Institute of Legal Medicine, Padova University, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montisci
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiological, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, Institute of Legal Medicine, Padova University, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cecchetto
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D010716:Phosphatidylinositols / Q000032:analysis; D054801:Phosphoinositide Phospholipase C / Q000032:analysis*; D054799:Phospholipase C beta / Q000032:analysis; D010727:Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases / Q000032:analysis; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013405:Suicide
chemical_list: D010716:Phosphatidylinositols; D012701:Serotonin; D010727:Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases; C518039:PLCB3 protein, human; D054801:Phosphoinositide Phospholipase C; D054799:Phospholipase C beta; C021491:glycerophosphoinositol glycerophosphodiesterase
keywords: Human brain; Phospholipase C; Signal transduction; Suicide