Abstract | BACKGROUND: Current pharmacological treatments for schizophrenia target G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), including dopamine receptors. Ligand-bound GPCRs are regulated by a family of G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs), members of which uncouple the receptor from heterotrimeric G proteins, desensitize the receptor, and induce receptor internalization via the arrestin family of scaffolding and signaling molecules. GRKs initiate the activation of downstream signaling pathways, can regulate receptors and signaling molecules independent of GPCR phosphorylation, and modulate epigenetic regulators like histone deacetylases (HDACs). We hypothesize that the expression of GRK proteins is altered in schizophrenia, consistent with previous findings of alterations upstream and downstream from this family of molecules that facilitate intracellular signaling processes. METHODS: In this study, we measured protein expression via Western blot analysis for GRKs 2, 3, 5, and 6 in the anterior cingulate cortex of patients with schizophrenia (n=36) and a comparison group (n=33). To control for antipsychotic treatment, we measured these same targets in haloperidol-treated vs. untreated rats (n=10 for both). RESULTS: CONCLUSION: These data suggest that increased GRK5 expression may contribute to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia via abnormal regulation of the cytoskeleton, endocytosis, signaling, GPCRs, and histone modification.
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Authors | Adam J Funk, Vahram Haroutunian, James H Meador-Woodruff, Robert E McCullumsmith |
Journal | Schizophrenia research
(Schizophr Res)
Vol. 159
Issue 1
Pg. 130-5
(Oct 2014)
ISSN: 1573-2509 [Electronic] Netherlands |
PMID | 25153362
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Copyright | Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. |
Chemical References |
- Antipsychotic Agents
- G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinases
- Haloperidol
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Topics |
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- Analysis of Variance
- Animals
- Antipsychotic Agents
(pharmacology)
- Female
- G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinases
(metabolism)
- Gene Expression Regulation
(drug effects, physiology)
- Gyrus Cinguli
(drug effects, metabolism)
- Haloperidol
(pharmacology)
- Humans
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Rats
- Rats, Sprague-Dawley
- Schizophrenia
(pathology)
- Signal Transduction
(physiology)
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