title: First evidence of HERV-H transcriptional activity reduction after methylphenidate treatment in a young boy with ADHD.
abstract: Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) have been associated with many complex diseases including neuropsychiatric diseases, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In ADHD an over-expression of HERV-H family in peripheral blood mononuclear cells has been documented. It has been hypothesized that HERVs may represent the link between genetic and environmental risk factors, contributing to the clinical onset and/or to the progression of the neurodevelopmental disease. The effect of pharmacological treatment on HERV transcriptional activity in psychiatric disorders has been attracting attention. Using a real-time RT-PCR we investigated the influence of methylphenidate on HERV transcription in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of a young patient with ADHD. In this clinical case we describe for the first time the reduction of HERV-H expression and the significant improvement of ADHD symptoms after 6 months of methylphenidate treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Systems Medicine, Unit of Child Neurology and Psychiatry, "Tor Vergata" University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: D'Agati
authors.affiliation: Department of Systems Medicine, Unit of Child Neurology and Psychiatry, "Tor Vergata" University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Mariabernarda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pitzianti
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, "Tor Vergata" University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Balestrieri
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, "Tor Vergata" University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Matteucci
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, "Tor Vergata" University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sinibaldi Vallebona
authors.affiliation: Department of Systems Medicine, Unit of Child Neurology and Psychiatry, "Tor Vergata" University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Augusto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pasini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020077:Endogenous Retroviruses / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008774:Methylphenidate
keywords: ADHD; Human endogenous retroviruses; Methylphenidate