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Decrease of the D4 dopamine receptor messenger RNA expression in lymphocytes from patients with major depression.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The evaluation of the possible role of dopamine in psychiatric disorders has been limited by the relative inadequacy of tools. A tempting approach to examine alterations of dopaminergic system in major depression is to examine the expression of dopamine receptors in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). METHODS: D4 dopamine receptor (D4DR) messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in PBMC from 12 patients with major depressive disorder was examined before and after an 8-week treatment with paroxetine at 20-50 mg/day. Ten healthy subjects were analyzed in parallel. The relative content of D4DR mRNA was determined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). using beta-actin as internal standard. RESULTS: D4DR mRNA levels were significantly decreased in untreated depressed patients as compared to controls. D4DR mRNA expression returned to control levels after paroxetine treatment, when patients achieved a significant improvement of depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Results of our study suggest the role of PBMC D4DR mRNA expression as a peripheral marker of the central dopaminergic function in major depression.

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BibTeXRIS

Paola Rocc, Concetta De Leo, Carola Eva, Livio Marchiaro, Anna Maria Milani, Rita Musso, Luigi Ravizza, Enrico Zanalda, Filippo Bogetto. 2002. Decrease of the D4 dopamine receptor messenger RNA expression in lymphocytes from patients with major depression.. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0278-5846(02)00253-1

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