Alpha- and Beta-Synucleins mRNA Expression in Lymphocytes of Schizophrenia Patients

作者：Noori Daloii Mohammad Reza^*; Kheirollahi Majid; Mahbod Parinaz; Mohammadi Fatemeh; Astaneh Ali Nazeri; Zarindast Mohammad Reza; Azimi Cyrus; Mohammadi Mohammad Reza

来源：Genetic Testing and Molecular Biomarkers, 2010, 14(5): 725-729.

DOI：10.1089/gtmb.2010.0050

Alpha-synuclein is largely, but not entirely, expressed in the central nervous system. A high concentration of alpha-synuclein in presynaptic terminals can mimic the normal function of endogenous alpha-synuclein in regulating synaptic vesicle mobilization at nerve terminals. Beta-synuclein protein is seen primarily in brain tissue and it is suggested that beta-synuclein acts as an inhibitor of alpha-synuclein aggregation, which occurs in neurodegenerative diseases. With respect to the role of synucleins in neurologic diseases such as Parkinson's disease, we decided to study the changes of alpha-and beta-synucleins in schizophrenia patients in relation to a control group. For this purpose, total RNA was extracted from the lymphocytes of patients and controls and then cDNA was synthesized and used for real-time polymerase chain reaction. Calculation of the relative expression of alpha-and beta-synucleins showed downregulation in patients in comparison to the control group. Independent two-tailed t-test showed that beta-synuclein mRNA expression in the control group was significantly higher than that in the patient group (p<0.01), but downregulation of alpha-synuclein gene was not significant. Therefore, a significant downregulation of beta-synuclein mRNA expression appears to be a suitable biomarker for the diagnosis of schizophrenia.

• 出版日期2010-10