Lack of change in markers of presynaptic terminal abundance alongside subtle reductions in markers of presynaptic terminal plasticity in prefrontal cortex of schizophrenia patients.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Reduced synaptic connectivity in frontal cortex may contribute to schizophrenia symptoms. While altered messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expression of various synaptic genes have been found, discrepancies between studies mean a generalizable synaptic pathology has not been identified.

METHODS:

We determined if mRNAs encoding presynaptic proteins enriched in inhibitory (vesicular gamma-aminobutyric acid transporter [VGAT] and complexin 1) and/or excitatory (vesicular glutamate transporter 1 [VGluT1] and complexin 2) terminals are altered in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of subjects with schizophrenia (n = 37 patients, n = 37 control subjects). We also measured mRNA expression of markers associated with synaptic plasticity/neurite outgrowth (growth associated protein 43 [GAP43] and neuronal navigators [NAVs] 1 and 2) and mRNAs of other synaptic-associated proteins previously implicated in schizophrenia: dysbindin and vesicle-associated membrane protein 1 (VAMP1) mRNAs using quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS:

No significant changes in complexin 1, VGAT, complexin 2, VGluT1, dysbindin, NAV2, or VAMP1 mRNA expression were found; however, expression of mRNAs associated with plasticity/cytoskeletal modification (GAP43 and NAV1) was reduced in schizophrenia. Although dysbindin mRNA did not differ in schizophrenia compared with control subjects, dysbindin mRNA positively correlated with GAP43 and NAV1 in schizophrenia but not in control subjects, suggesting low levels of dysbindin may be linked to reduced plasticity in the disease state. No relationships between three dysbindin genetic polymorphisms previously associated with dysbindin mRNA levels were found.

CONCLUSIONS:

A reduction in the plasticity of synaptic terminals supports the hypothesis that their reduced modifiability may contribute to neuropathology and working memory deficits in schizophrenia.

• Authors: Samantha J Fung, Sinthuja Sivagnanasundaram, Cynthia Shannon Weickert
• Journal: Biological psychiatry (Biol Psychiatry) Vol. 69 Issue 1 Pg. 71-9 (Jan 01 2011) ISSN: 1873-2402 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 21145444 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2011 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport
• Biomarkers
• Carrier Proteins
• DTNBP1 protein, human
• Dysbindin
• Dystrophin-Associated Proteins
• GAP-43 Protein
• Microtubule-Associated Proteins
• NAV1 protein, human
• Nerve Growth Factors
• Nerve Tissue Proteins
• SLC17A7 protein, human
• SLC32A1 protein, human
• VAMP1 protein, human
• Vesicle-Associated Membrane Protein 1
• Vesicular Glutamate Transport Protein 1
• Vesicular Inhibitory Amino Acid Transport Proteins
• complexin I
• complexin II
• DNA Helicases
• NAV2 protein, human

Topics

• Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport (metabolism)
• Biomarkers (metabolism)
• Carrier Proteins (genetics, metabolism)
• DNA Helicases
• Dysbindin
• Dystrophin-Associated Proteins
• GAP-43 Protein (metabolism)
• Gene Expression
• Humans
• Microtubule-Associated Proteins
• Nerve Growth Factors (metabolism)
• Nerve Tissue Proteins (metabolism)
• Neuronal Plasticity
• Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
• Prefrontal Cortex (metabolism)
• Presynaptic Terminals (metabolism)
• Schizophrenia (metabolism)
• Vesicle-Associated Membrane Protein 1 (metabolism)
• Vesicular Glutamate Transport Protein 1 (metabolism)
• Vesicular Inhibitory Amino Acid Transport Proteins (metabolism)