title: mRNA expression of dopamine receptors in peripheral blood lymphocytes of computer game addicts.
abstract: Excessive playing of computer games like some other behaviors could lead to addiction. Addictive behaviors may induce their reinforcing effects through stimulation of the brain dopaminergic mesolimbic pathway. The status of dopamine receptors in the brain may be parallel to their homologous receptors in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs). Here, we have investigated the mRNA expression of dopamine D3, D4 and D5 receptors in PBLs of computer game addicts (n = 20) in comparison to normal subjects (n = 20), using a real-time PCR method. The results showed that the expression level of D3 and D4 dopamine receptors in computer game addicts were not statistically different from the control group. However, the expression of the mRNA of D5 dopamine receptor was significantly down-regulated in PBLs of computer game addicts and reached 0.42 the amount of the control group. It is concluded that unlike with drug addiction, the expression levels of the D3 and D4 dopamine receptors in computer game addicts are not altered compared to the control group. However, reduced level of the D5 dopamine receptor in computer game addicts may serve as a peripheral marker in studies where the confounding effects of abused drugs are unwanted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, P.O. BOX 1417755469, Tehran, Iran. n-vousooghi@tums.ac.ir.|Iranian National Center for Addiction Studies (INCAS), Iranian Institute for Reduction of High-Risk Behaviors, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. n-vousooghi@tums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Nasim
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vousooghi
authors.affiliation: Iranian National Center for Addiction Studies (INCAS), Iranian Institute for Reduction of High-Risk Behaviors, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.|Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Seyed Zeinolabedin
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Zarei
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, P.O. BOX 1417755469, Tehran, Iran.|Iranian National Center for Addiction Studies (INCAS), Iranian Institute for Reduction of High-Risk Behaviors, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mitra-Sadat
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Sadat-Shirazi
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency, Namazi Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Eghbali
authors.affiliation: Iranian National Center for Addiction Studies (INCAS), Iranian Institute for Reduction of High-Risk Behaviors, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.|Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.|Institute for Studies in Theoretical Physics and Mathematics, School of Cognitive Sciences, Tehran, Iran.|Institute for Cognitive Science Studies, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Zarrindast
mesh_terms: D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D050637:Receptors, Dopamine D3 / Q000097:blood*; D050638:Receptors, Dopamine D4 / Q000097:blood*; D050641:Receptors, Dopamine D5 / Q000097:blood*; D018910:Video Games; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D050637:Receptors, Dopamine D3; D050638:Receptors, Dopamine D4; D050641:Receptors, Dopamine D5
keywords: Computer game addiction; Dopamine receptor; Lymphocyte; mRNA expression